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Unread 30-03-2010, 03:48   #3
Colm Moore
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Default Limerick-Galway rail service commences Tuesday 30th March 2010

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=686
Quote:
Limerick-Galway rail service commences Tuesday 30th March by Corporate Communications

Almost 34 years after the last scheduled passenger train operated between Limerick and Galway line, a special launch train carrying invited guests will once again traverse the tracks between the two cities later today (Monday 29th March), to officially open the new Limerick – Galway service.

The €106.5 million new route will be officially launched by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD following the completion of the renewal of the Ennis-Athenry line. Scheduled services will commence tomorrow, Tuesday 30th March.

Joining Minister Dempsey and CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr John Lynch at the launch celebrations will be the Mayors of the cities and counties along the route, elected representatives, community and business groups, members of the project team and other invited guests.

The Ennis to Athenry renewal will:
- Deliver direct Galway to Limerick services, in comfort, and with reliable city to city journey times
- Serve Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway; and new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell with 83, 72, 53 and 62 parking spaces at each respectively. Sixmilebridge Station has been delivered in conjunction with Clare County Council
- Expand commuter links to Limerick and Galway
- Promote balanced regional development, in line with National Spatial Strategy objectives, by linking two Gateways – Limerick and Galway – and serving the hub of Ennis

The investment project delivered by Iarnród Éireann, and funded by the Irish Government under Transport 21, involved:
- Renewal of 36 miles of track, including all necessary fencing and drainage and installation of points and crossings at Gort and Ennis.
- A 90m platform with furniture, signage, shelter, Automatic Ticket Vending Machine, lighting, car park, PA, Customer Information Systems, help point and CCTV provision at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. These stations are also accessible to the mobility impaired
- At Ennis and Athenry stations, PA, Customer Information Systems, help point and CCTV has been provided
- Repair and improvement work has been undertaken on bridges on the route to allow rail services to operate
- Modernised signalling systems
- Over 100 level crossings have been eliminated

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman, Dr John Lynch, previewing the service, said “already it is clear there is tremendous public support for and interest in this new service. We have boosted capacities on trains throughout launch week such is the level of enquiries from people right along the route, and we are very confident that demand will easily outstrip the projections made for this service.”

Speaking today Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said: "This is a truly historic day for the West of Ireland because for the first time in over 30 years passenger trains will again run between Limerick and Galway. It is the longest section of track to be re-opened in the entire country and it is also the first Inter-City line to be re-opened"

The Minister continued: "I would like to acknowledge the dedication and vision of the various groups and organisations that have worked over the years. Your support for projects such as the Western Rail Corridor is crucial. I cannot overstate the critical importance of local support for Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor in promoting the development of Phase 2 and 3"

The service will launch with five services in each direction, Monday to Saturday, serving all stations en route, with four services each way on Sundays. Services will operate as follows (from 30th March):

Monday to Saturday
Galway to Limerick

Dep Galway....... 06.40 09.45 12.10 14.30 17.25
Arr Athenry...... 06.53 09.58 12.23 14.43 17.38
Dep Athenry...... 06.56 10.03 12.26 14.46 17.41
Dep Craughwell... 07.05 10.12 12.35 14.55 17.50
Dep Ardrahan..... 07.17 10.24 12.47 15.07 18.02
Dep Gort......... 07.32 10.41 13.01 15.21 18.14
Arr Ennis........ 07.59 11.08 13.28 15.48 18.41
Dep Ennis........ 08.00 11.08 13.28 15.48 18.44
Dep Sixmilebridge 08.17 11.26 13.46 16.06 19.01
Arr Limerick..... 08.39 11.48 14.08 16.28 19.24


Monday to Saturday
Limerick to Galway

Dep Limerick..... 06.00 09.35 11.55 14.15 18.05
Dep Sixmilebridge 06.21 09.56 12.16 14.36 18.26
Arr Ennis........ 06.40 10.14 12.34 14.54 18.44
Dep Ennis........ 07.05 10.14 12.34 14.54 18.44
Dep Gort......... 07.33 10.41 13.01 15.21 19.11
Dep Ardrahan..... 07.43 10.51 13.11 15.31 19.21
Dep Craughwell... 07.54 11.02 13.22 15.42 19.32
Arr Athenry...... 08.05 11.12 13.32 15.52 19.42
Dep Athenry...... 08.08 11.19 13.35 15.56 19.45
Arr Galway....... 08.25 11.34 13.51 16.13 20.00


Sunday
Galway to Limerick

Dep Galway....... 08.25 12.05 16.25 18.40
Arr Athenry...... 08.38 12.18 16.38 18.53
Dep Athenry...... 08.41 12.21 16.41 18.57
Dep Craughwell... 08.50 12.30 16.50 19.06
Dep Ardrahan..... 09.02 12.42 17.02 19.18
Dep Gort......... 09.14 12.54 17.16 19.36
Arr Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 17.43 20.03
Dep Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 17.43 20.03
Dep Sixmilebridge 09.59 13.39 18.01 20.21
Arr Limerick..... 10.23 14.02 18.24 20.43

Sunday
Limerick to Galway

Dep Limerick..... 09.00 12.40 16.10 18.30
Dep Sixmilebridge 09.21 13.01 16.31 18.51
Arr Ennis........ 09.39 13.19 16.49 19.09
Dep Ennis........ 09.41 13.21 16.49 19.09
Dep Gort......... 10.09 13.49 17.16 19.36
Dep Ardrahan..... 10.18 13.58 17.26 19.46
Dep Craughwell... 10.29 14.09 17.37 19.57
Arr Athenry...... 10.40 14.20 17.47 20.07
Dep Athenry...... 10.42 14.22 17.50 20.10
Arr Galway....... 10.59 14.39 18.09 20.25
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Last edited by Colm Moore : 30-03-2010 at 04:01.
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