Western rail corridor (WRC) - Capital Plan

James Howard · 07-09-2018, 17:24

If we're talking about connecting ports in the south as a Brexit insurance policy, surely Waterford to Rosslare would be of far higher priority than the WRC. In particular if the Barrow bridge is left to decay, it will become pretty much impossible to reopen Waterford to Rosslare even if there was a will to do so.

I don't think think any of Waterford - Rosslare, Athlone - Mullingar and Middleton - Youghal are under any consideration anywhere other than on on-line forums. All three would probably stack up better as a business case than the WRC yet for some reason the latter has remained on the news agenda for the best part of 20 years.

Goods · 09-09-2018, 05:41

Agree completely with you about the bad decision to shut Waterford Rosslare which is an example of Irish Rail fragmented thinking. In both France and UK lines to ports continue despite the rise in car ferry travel. Bikers and hikers are regularly disembarking in Rosslare and then what?
On WRC what makes that line different from the others you mention is it’s connectivity with other mainlines - Sligo line, Westport, Galway and Limerick three of our top cities and one of our leading tourist destinations all connected via WRC.
West ofIreland TDs bar a few stalwarts like Sean Canney in Galway are more interested in the next election that long term planning for the west.
Knock Airport would never have been the solution it is today if it relied on short-termism of today’s TDs. They should band together and do something strategic for a change

Goods · 11-09-2018, 11:27

"The revenues from operations came about as a 45.5m passenger journeys were made across Dart, Commuter and Intercity network matching the company's highest ever passenger numbers in 2007" - Irish Rail annual report.

Rreceipts from Public Service Obligations (PSO) increased from €110.64m to €114.779m while other exchequer funding fell from €112.58m to €95.98m.

We are decreasing funding to rail at a time when the country is taking in billions in tax and simultaneously preventing the network develop to its full potential by keeping lines like WRC idle instead of increasing connectivity. The demand is there provide the service. 95m in funding to a system that is giving service to 45m people thats 2 euro per passenger. Look at what a department like Justice costs - about 2 billion!

Goods · 14-09-2018, 14:03

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/irishr...nal_part21.pdf

comcor · 14-09-2018, 15:01

The problem there is that the Athenry-Tuam motorway has completely blown Tuam's score to pieces. Where it had 100 for lack of road competition, that is now a 0. It's score is now a rather mid-table 41.

I was always perplexed by using scores from Gateways and Hubs from the National Spatial Strategy in this as well, seeing that the designation was rather arbitrary and more suited to help local politicians in 2002 than actually develop a strategy (I mean, why was Tuam, then population 7,200 and 34km from the nearest Gateway a hub, while Navan then population 19,400 and 48km from the nearest Gateway not a hub). The assessment criteria should simply have been town population.

Bus competition was perceived as a negative, when in fact it demonstrated the demand for public transport on a route. This actually worked against the Athenry-Tuam section of the WRC though, although it made the figures look way better further north.

Goods · 15-09-2018, 12:00

http://www.mayonews.ie/news/32491-co...dor-campaigner
The case for reopening is solid its about taking the initiative - like Knock airport long ago

Goods · 24-10-2018, 11:18

http://www.mayonews.ie/news/32491-co...dor-campaigner

The absence of any real political backing for the reopening of the rail line to Claremorris in the west usually implies that local vested interests have knobbled the voice of the politician. The rail corridor is a national asset regardless if it competes against local transport interests. IE has signed up to 2030 UN Global cimate change goals that it cannot meet if we remain wedded to the car. Projects like WRC can contribute to the change including removing cars from commuting to Galway. Now is the time to mobilise not the day before an election.

Goods · 17-07-2019, 16:34

No surprise that the population down the country are a second thought in terms of transport which is probably why western Rail Corridor has so little central political support.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...ds-937586.html

dowlingm · 21-07-2019, 14:30

The balancing of Dublin's growth can come from strengthening western and southern urban centres, but Athenry-Claremorris is the middle or end of that process, not the beginning.

Athlone-Mullingar got greenwayed despite being materially more significant infrastructure than Tuam-Claremorris.
M3-Navan can't get done,
Youghal-Midleton can't,
Tivoli/Blarney/Blackpool can't, (Blackpool plan won a planning award ELEVEN YEARS AGO)
no passing loop at Sixmilebridge,
Killonan-Limerick Junction, Portarlington-Athlone, Athlone-Galway and Maynooth-Mullingar still mostly single track,
Waterford-Limerick Junction with loops lifted and an awkward terminus at both ends, plus ancient signalling and manual crossings (see also Nenagh branch)

I would do something about all of those *before* I would touch the Tuam route. Why not fill B&B beds with leisure trippers in the meantime?

Meanwhile Ireland is staring down the barrel of no-deal Brexit and the possibility of having to create from very little resources and less time a railfreight capability from Dublin Port to Belfast as some kind of help to the catastrophe a road border regime would create.

The fact, Goods, that you can link to article after article (and growth rates of trains operating in low double digit loads) does not indicate the likely success of such a venture. It only demonstrates the truth of the old saying "(local) paper never refused ink"

Goods · 21-07-2019, 16:03

I agree that there are many rail priorities that have gathered dust over time probably the most inexplicable one is failing to extend the railway to Navan from M3 as was the intention.
Railways are more than just about the star performing lines they are also about transport infrastructure in the society that lead to future development and economic options. Knock Airport was rubbished often in the initial phase yet today it relieves traffic from the west going to a clogged Dublin everyday.
Galway is looking for solutions to deal with traffic gridlock, the railway link to Tuam is an option - the link to Limerick is a success already.
You rightly mention Brexit , the WRC is a north South option that could relieve the overused mainline south from Dublin and give access to Rosslare and Waterford ports for the future.
Railway is a transport solution that will become more important why not use infrastructure that is already in place and owned by the state. I take your point on different priorities whoever sets them

14-09-2018, 14:03	#4
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	good read http://www.irishrail.ie/media/irishr...nal_part21.pdf

24-10-2018, 11:18	#7
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	Reopen WRC line to Claremorris http://www.mayonews.ie/news/32491-co...dor-campaigner The absence of any real political backing for the reopening of the rail line to Claremorris in the west usually implies that local vested interests have knobbled the voice of the politician. The rail corridor is a national asset regardless if it competes against local transport interests. IE has signed up to 2030 UN Global cimate change goals that it cannot meet if we remain wedded to the car. Projects like WRC can contribute to the change including removing cars from commuting to Galway. Now is the time to mobilise not the day before an election.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-09-2018, 17:24	#1
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	If we're talking about connecting ports in the south as a Brexit insurance policy, surely Waterford to Rosslare would be of far higher priority than the WRC. In particular if the Barrow bridge is left to decay, it will become pretty much impossible to reopen Waterford to Rosslare even if there was a will to do so. I don't think think any of Waterford - Rosslare, Athlone - Mullingar and Middleton - Youghal are under any consideration anywhere other than on on-line forums. All three would probably stack up better as a business case than the WRC yet for some reason the latter has remained on the news agenda for the best part of 20 years.

09-09-2018, 05:41	#2
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	Agree completely with you about the bad decision to shut Waterford Rosslare which is an example of Irish Rail fragmented thinking. In both France and UK lines to ports continue despite the rise in car ferry travel. Bikers and hikers are regularly disembarking in Rosslare and then what? On WRC what makes that line different from the others you mention is it’s connectivity with other mainlines - Sligo line, Westport, Galway and Limerick three of our top cities and one of our leading tourist destinations all connected via WRC. West ofIreland TDs bar a few stalwarts like Sean Canney in Galway are more interested in the next election that long term planning for the west. Knock Airport would never have been the solution it is today if it relied on short-termism of today’s TDs. They should band together and do something strategic for a change

11-09-2018, 11:27	#3
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	"The revenues from operations came about as a 45.5m passenger journeys were made across Dart, Commuter and Intercity network matching the company's highest ever passenger numbers in 2007" - Irish Rail annual report. Rreceipts from Public Service Obligations (PSO) increased from €110.64m to €114.779m while other exchequer funding fell from €112.58m to €95.98m. We are decreasing funding to rail at a time when the country is taking in billions in tax and simultaneously preventing the network develop to its full potential by keeping lines like WRC idle instead of increasing connectivity. The demand is there provide the service. 95m in funding to a system that is giving service to 45m people thats 2 euro per passenger. Look at what a department like Justice costs - about 2 billion!

14-09-2018, 15:01	#5
comcor Really Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford Posts: 855	The problem there is that the Athenry-Tuam motorway has completely blown Tuam's score to pieces. Where it had 100 for lack of road competition, that is now a 0. It's score is now a rather mid-table 41. I was always perplexed by using scores from Gateways and Hubs from the National Spatial Strategy in this as well, seeing that the designation was rather arbitrary and more suited to help local politicians in 2002 than actually develop a strategy (I mean, why was Tuam, then population 7,200 and 34km from the nearest Gateway a hub, while Navan then population 19,400 and 48km from the nearest Gateway not a hub). The assessment criteria should simply have been town population. Bus competition was perceived as a negative, when in fact it demonstrated the demand for public transport on a route. This actually worked against the Athenry-Tuam section of the WRC though, although it made the figures look way better further north.

15-09-2018, 12:00	#6
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	http://www.mayonews.ie/news/32491-co...dor-campaigner The case for reopening is solid its about taking the initiative - like Knock airport long ago

17-07-2019, 16:34	#8
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	No surprise that the population down the country are a second thought in terms of transport which is probably why western Rail Corridor has so little central political support. https://www.irishexaminer.com/breaki...ds-937586.html

21-07-2019, 14:30	#9
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	The balancing of Dublin's growth can come from strengthening western and southern urban centres, but Athenry-Claremorris is the middle or end of that process, not the beginning. Athlone-Mullingar got greenwayed despite being materially more significant infrastructure than Tuam-Claremorris. M3-Navan can't get done, Youghal-Midleton can't, Tivoli/Blarney/Blackpool can't, (Blackpool plan won a planning award ELEVEN YEARS AGO) no passing loop at Sixmilebridge, Killonan-Limerick Junction, Portarlington-Athlone, Athlone-Galway and Maynooth-Mullingar still mostly single track, Waterford-Limerick Junction with loops lifted and an awkward terminus at both ends, plus ancient signalling and manual crossings (see also Nenagh branch) I would do something about all of those before I would touch the Tuam route. Why not fill B&B beds with leisure trippers in the meantime? Meanwhile Ireland is staring down the barrel of no-deal Brexit and the possibility of having to create from very little resources and less time a railfreight capability from Dublin Port to Belfast as some kind of help to the catastrophe a road border regime would create. The fact, Goods, that you can link to article after article (and growth rates of trains operating in low double digit loads) does not indicate the likely success of such a venture. It only demonstrates the truth of the old saying "(local) paper never refused ink"

21-07-2019, 16:03	#10
Goods Regular Poster Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 117	I agree that there are many rail priorities that have gathered dust over time probably the most inexplicable one is failing to extend the railway to Navan from M3 as was the intention. Railways are more than just about the star performing lines they are also about transport infrastructure in the society that lead to future development and economic options. Knock Airport was rubbished often in the initial phase yet today it relieves traffic from the west going to a clogged Dublin everyday. Galway is looking for solutions to deal with traffic gridlock, the railway link to Tuam is an option - the link to Limerick is a success already. You rightly mention Brexit , the WRC is a north South option that could relieve the overused mainline south from Dublin and give access to Rosslare and Waterford ports for the future. Railway is a transport solution that will become more important why not use infrastructure that is already in place and owned by the state. I take your point on different priorities whoever sets them