Councillor John Connolly (FF ) has expressed “deep frustration” at how long it has taken to make a planning application for the second platform in Oranmore.
Cllr Connolly also added that the application cannot be used as an excuse not to deal with “urgent issues” which require “immediate attention” at the station.
“An announcement of a planning application by Minister Naughton which should’ve been made years ago, for the second platform at Oranmore Train Station rings hollow for people who get on the 7:49am train from Athenry and 8:01am train from Oranmore to Galway.”
“The conditions that passengers are currently experiencing on that train are deplorable. Breathing space is at a premium and there is no capacity for additional passengers to get on at Oranmore.”
Why has it taken so long to apply for planning permission?
“The announcement of funding for the second platform and passing loop at Oranmore railway station was first made in December 2020 and rehashed at every opportunity by senior Fine Gael politicians. It is mind-boggling to think that the preparation of a planning application has taken almost four years. I hope the decision to grant planning will happen much quicker that the time it took to make the application. One could be forgiven for thinking the application was on hold pending the time of the election”.
“I have also sought clarity from the NTA as to whether the planning application includes for the expansion of the Car Park at the station. In October 2022, the NTA informed Galway City Council that the Train Station at Oranmore was one of their strategic park-and-ride sites that could be delivered in the short term. To facilitate this, the NTA advised that it was required to increase the parking capacity of the site from 140 cars to 280 cars.”
“I have also contacted Irish Rail to request that they maintain four carriages between Limerick and Galway every morning. This train serves Athenry at 7:49am and Oranmore at 8:01am. Currently, the train is reduced from four carriages to two between Ennis and Galway. Two carriages are insufficient for the existing demand between Athenry and Galway.”
