The official opening of the long-awaited Galway to Limerick rail service is set to take place next Monday, an event which has been described by campaigners as a “good day for the west of Ireland”.
The €106.5 million new route between Galway and Limerick will be officially launched on March 29 with full schedules operating from March 30. Galway will now be linked to Limerick by rail for the first time in 30 years and its significance is not lost on those who have vigorously campaigned for the completion of the Western Rail Corridor.
Such is the welcome for the opening of the first phase of the project that West on Track Community Campaign, which was first launched in 2003 to co-ordinate a massive community response and thereby put pressure on Government to provide better infrastracture in the west, is now calling on communities along the route of the Western Rail Corridor to turn out in force at their local stations next Monday to show their support.
The group has warmly welcomed the joint statement issued last Friday by civic, commercial, political, church, educational, and community interests across the western region welcoming phase one of the Western Rail Corridor and urging the continuation of the project.
“The extraordinary consensus that exists throughout this whole region regarding the building of the rail corridor is both unique and gratifying and is a clear endorsement of the Government’s decision to open the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor.
“We note the unanimous call that the Government would continue the good work by commencing the next phase in the current year. As pointed out in the joint statement the railway has recently been surveyed to Tuam and Claremorris and it has become clear that the cost of construction is now much less than the previously estimated figure of two million per mile and is clearly the best value for money of any project in Transport 21.
“Monday March 29 will be a good day for the west of Ireland, but the West on Track campaign is not over. The speedy delivery of the entire Western Rail Corridor in line with the Government’s commitment remains our immediate and determined priority,” said a spokesman.
The opening of the Galway to Limerick line follows the completion of the rebuilding of the Ennis to Athenry line, the receding of recent flooding between Limerick and Ennis, and the completion of major infrastructure works at the end of last year. As part of the reopening new stations will open at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, and Craughwell with upgrades to existing stations at Limerick, Ennis, and Athenry. The service will commence with five services each way daily (Monday to Saturday ), and four services each way daily on Sundays.
