Rail campaign is finally bearing fruit

“All parties in the Dáil now see the benefits and support the plan to re-open the railway from Athenry to Claremorris.” 

These are the words of Colman O’Reilly, who has been the voice of the West on Track campaign to reopen the so-called Western Rail Corridor, closed in 1976, for the past 20 years.

“This sea-change that has occurred in the campaign leads us to believe, with some confidence, that the re-opening will be included in the Programme for Government, and will be constructed and opened in the lifetime of the new Dáil,” Mr O'Reilly told the Western People at the weekend. “It has taken us a long time to convince them all that the proposal makes sense, but they see now that it makes economic, social and environmental sense to re-open the railway. There’s nothing not to like about this project.” 

If all the parties support the plan, it has taken a campaign led by locals like Colman and hundreds of other people scattered across Mayo, Galway and Sligo and further afield to get them on board. But whatever it has taken, the chances of the railway reopening in the next few years are realistic.

The Dublin to Westport line which, for the most part, is a single track, is near capacity for train journeys. Passengers on the line often sit in a stationary carriage, waiting for a train travelling in the opposite direction to pass before their train can proceed. The wait takes place at so-called ‘passing points,’ which are essential on single-track railways, allowing trains to effectively meet on the one track. Because lines converge as they head towards the capital, they cannot accommodate many more trains.

“Extending the line from Athenry to Claremorris opens up a new route to export markets for industry,” Mr O’Reilly said. “The line will provide rail access to ports like Foynes in Limerick, which will be serviced by rail, and further south to Cork and Waterford. Already exporters from Ballina use their local link to Manulla Junction to pick up a route to Dublin. The reopened railway will offer an alternative and will increase capacity. It will, critically, facilitate expansion and job creation in the region. It will be a huge benefit to passengers, too.” 

 West on Track has funded its own campaign from the start. It has held conferences and commissioned reports. The money needed was willingly and generously donated by the volunteers in an attempt to convince the authorities that the project was worthwhile.

There were many missed opportunities along the way, times when it would have been easy for the government of the day to deliver the re-opening. Mayo had four government TDs at one stage during the campaign, including a Taoiseach. Of course, money was tight at the time. The economy had collapsed, and we were staggering to remain upright. But when Donogh O’Malley became Minister for Education in 1966, he didn’t let money become an obstacle in the provision of free second-level education, which up to that point was fee-paying. He made an announcement to the media that free education would be available to all from 1969. He did so on a Saturday and just after the Dáil went into summer recess. The announcement was hugely popular with the public and by the time the Dáil reconvened, no TD or Minister could oppose such a move. When asked at one point, “Can we afford it?” his reply was, “Can we afford not to do it?” 

After the Celtic Tiger era collapse, there might not have been much appetite for such leadership, but the opportunity was there. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

Impending redevelopment of the railway station in Galway City and the installation of lifts at Claremorris railway station will all facilitate the reopening. The Galway train traditionally pulled into Platform 2 at Claremorris station (accessed by a foot-bridge over the track) when it was in use up to the 1970s. The new lifts will make that platform assessible to all. There are plans to redevelop Tuam station too and it will be used as one of a number of ‘passing points’ along the reopened line.

The final phase of the reopening, that from Claremorris to Collooney in Co Sligo, must not be forgotten in the process. This will facilitate rail travel from Sligo to Cork for passengers and freight. It will also bring the railway much closer to Ireland West Airport.

The persuasion of politicians that this is a good idea took a lot of work. It is a fine example of the strength a specialist group of volunteers can show and how effective they can be. It is a shame that this type of campaign was necessary, however. A Donogh O’Malley-style minister would have the trains running on the Western Rail Corridor long ago.