Westport town councillors expressed their disappointment and scepticism as regards the early bird train service from Westport which will not go ahead in January but will be postponed to some time in spring.
Anne Moore, Town Clerk, informed members at the town council’s meeting last week that Iarnród Éireann released their new timetable this week but that there was no change to the current timetable from Westport which is in operation.
Mr Myles McHugh, Service Planning Manager Southern and Western with Iarnród Éireann, was contacted about the non provision of new services to which he responded that as there was a new fleet renewal occurring throughout the county that there would be no national timetable change until mid to late spring. Mr McHugh, however, informed the town clerk that there is no reason no to think that the extra services as promised would not go ahead.
Councillors vented their disapproval, with Councillor Margaret Adams informing her fellow councillors that she contacted Mr McHugh during the week, who also reassured her that extra services would be rolled out but she said that it was a “vague reply” as it did not specifically highlight a date.
Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that the response was a load of “codswallop” in “fobbing us off” and was nothing but “derailing tactics”. Cllr Martin Keating said that the postponement now would mean a cancellation in spring and commented on how hypocritical it was to defer services yet implement new parking charges.
Cllr Peter Flynn said he was sceptical and pessimistic about the services being introduced in spring “as it could be spring in Russia” to which Mr McHugh was referring.
Cllr Declan Dever said that pressure should be continued to be put on them while Cllr Tereasa McGuire said that Iarnród Éireann are “leading us on a merry dance”.
Town Manager Peter Hynes said that it was disappointing that the early bird service would not be in place for January and said that as the issue is important to the town it should remain on forthcoming agendas.
