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Unread 05-01-2012, 12:42   #16
Destructix
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Tipperary
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From Tipperary Star
Quote:
OVER 140 children and adults took part in this year’s annual Nenagh Rail Partnership trip to Limerick On Ice.
This is the eight year of the event run by the partnership, whose aim is to get more people using the local rail service.
“We have always had consistently high numbers for this trip. It’s a great opportunity for families and friends to have a day out after Christmas and before going back to school following the Christmas holidays,” said Nenagh Rail Partnership chair, Nenagh Mayor Cllr Virginia O’Dowd.
“Right from the firt trip, Limerick On Ice and Iarnrod Eireann have been very supportive of us, giving us discounts on both the admission price to Limerick On Ice and on the rail fare.
“The partnership really appreciates their help and support,” she said.
The Mayor said that trips such as this week’s event showed how the line could be used and developed and urged local groups to think of ways of organizing trips along the line.
Nenagh Rail Partnership has used the service for trips to Cloughjordan and Castleconnell for days out, and Mayor O’Dowd pointed to how sucessful this year’s special train to Croke Park for the All-Ireland as an example of how business along the line could be developed.
She also urged people working in Limerick to consider using the train, but pointed out that it was not just there for commuter use to and from Limerick or Dublin.
“People visiting the Eco-village in Cloughjordan are encouraged to come by train. It could be used as part of a school trip or by Active Retirement groups. The problem is that if we don’t use it there is a danger we will lose it, and once it is gone it will be very hard to get it back, especially in the current economic crisis,” she said.
How will excursion at €5 fares save the line?

Quote:
Published on Wednesday 4 January 2012 10:54
Nenagh Rail Partnership has defended the local rail line that serves Ballybrophy and Limerick amid reports that Iarnrod Eireann is to close the line this year because of lack of use.
The closure is thought to be on the cards because Iarnrod Eireann is reported to be looking at its lightly used lines due to budgetary constraints, with its allocation expected to be cut by the Government by up to E21m to E242m.
However, it has yet to seek approval to close the line.
Duncan Martin, PRO, of Nenagh Rail Partnership, told the Tipperary Star this week: “The threat to close the line has popped up regularly over the the years.
“There is no doubt some people in senior management in Iarnrod Eireann would like to close it. As a result they have neglected the line for decades and totally failed to promote it, while allowing services to gradually decline.
“Falling passengers numbers are no surprise under such management. What is needed is a radical shake-up in its approach to the line, with a dedicated management in charge focused on building passenger numbers rather than driving them down."

Last edited by Destructix : 05-01-2012 at 12:51.
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