West=On=Track -News

Phase 2 of Western Rail Corridor will Proceed

Press Release Wednesday July 28th 2010 

Following the publication on Monday of the proposed Government capital investment programme there has been considerable speculation about the future of the Western Rail Corridor, much of it ill-informed or simply malicious.

Contrary to initial media speculation, the Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD has again confirmed that the next phase of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Tuam is to proceed on time as outlined in Transport 21.

Speaking yesterday to the Irish Times Mr. Dempsey said: “The Western Rail Corridor phase two is not put on the long finger. Navan rail line [is] not put on the long finger despite reports to the contrary . . . They are not on hold.”

The West on Track community campaign welcomes this explicit confirmation by Minister Dempsey and by other Government sources, and understands that funding has been made available to Iarnród Éireann to proceed with the project.

With regard to Phase 3 from Tuam to Claremorris we note that the Minister made it clear on Galway Bay FM, that this stage can and will be completed when exchequer funds become available. It is important to emphasize that, like the Navan project, there is nothing to preclude this happening in the lifetime of the programme, notwithstanding the fact that euro7,500million has been set aside for rail projects in Dublin.

It is worth noting that Phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor can be completed for the cost of just 100 metres of the underground Dart.