Recommendation to reopen Claremorris to Athenry rail line welcomed

THE news that the reinstatement of the old rail line between Claremorris and Athenry is recommended under the All-Island Strategic Rail Review is excellent news for Mayo.

That’s according to Aontú Councillor Paul Lawless who says the inclusion of this rail artery will greatly improve connectivity for the entire county and is a hugely positive step towards the future success of the county in relation to jobs and infrastructure.

The inclusion of Claremorris in the final report, which requires approval of both governments, north and south, is one of 32 recommendations to make long awaited improvements to the national rail network.

The plan to improve the national rail network is to cost an estimated €37 billion and is expected to be fully completed by 2050.

Said Councillor Lawless: “We have needed this service for decades and it will have huge knock-on effects that are greatly needed.

“Our road network is under inordinate pressure, towns and villages are clogged up with heavy arterial traffic, people are spending hours in their cars commuting long distances to work, road deaths are tragically on the rise and the costs of diesel and petrol are rising all the time.

“The opening up of the old Claremorris rail line will greatly negate so much of this and is so positive for much of the western region.”

He continued: “While I welcome the report, I believe the full reopening of the Western Rail Corridor from Claremorris to Sligo should be included. It is very disappointing and highlights the lack of will by government to address the infrastructure deficits in the country.

“The recently published report from the Northern and Western Regional Assemble (NWRA) found that this region is on par with the least well-off areas in Europe in terms of infrastructure and languishing far behind other regions across Ireland and Europe. In addition, the existing N17 from Mayo to Sligo is one of the worst national routes in the country.

“It is critically imperative that the people of the west and north west enjoy the infrastructural benefits to the rest of the country and Europe.”