West=On=Track -News

Phase 2 of Western Rail Corridor to Proceed on Time

Thursday June 24th 2010 

The West on Track community campaign warmly welcomes the confirmation in Dáil Éireann yesterday by Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD that the next phase of the Western Rail Corridor is to proceed on time as outlined in Transport 21.

Responding to a question form Labour Party Transport Spokesman,  Mr. Tommy Brouhan TD, Minister Dempsey said:

" ...I have laid out my priorities on transport. The two major projects I want to see advanced are the interconnector and the metro, which will take six years to complete rather than the three and a half years we talked about. Money is and will be required for both projects from this year on.

Ironically, the fact that the interconnector and metro will take longer than expected to complete, for environmental and design reasons, will ensure that the next phases of the Western Rail Corridor and the Navan line will proceed on time and perhaps a little ahead of time. It is an ill wind that blows no good."

Full transcript can be found at  http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20100623.xml&Node=H13-2&Page=9

Welcoming the Minister’s comments, a West on Track spokesman said:
“This statement from Minister Dempsey is enormously significant and indicates that there has been no wavering on the part of the Government about continuing the WRC to Tuam and Claremorris. Mr. Dempsey personally has always been a strong supporter of the project and we commend his ongoing commitment to this important development for the whole western region.”

Note: The link to Tuam is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011 and is expected to be well in service in time for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012, an event of enormous prestige and economic importance not only for the entire western region but for the whole country.