Western Railway Corridor
Template:Future public transportation
The Western Railway Corridor (WRC), or Conair Iarnród an Iarthair (CII), in Ireland is a recent term for a mostly disused railway line running through the West of Ireland. Currently only two sections of the line, from Limerick to Ennis and Collooney to Sligo, see regular services, with other sections either closed, or only technically open. Work is currently under way on the Ennis to Athenry section, which is expected to reopen in August 2009.
Western Rail Corridor ex-GSWR line south of Limerick in green,
other ex-MGWR lines are in red.
Context
In 2005 an Expert Working Group reported on the prospects for reopening all or part of the corridor. In September 2006 the preservation and reclamation of the northern section was begun and the Government then announced funding to begin Phase 1 of the re-opening of the corridor, beginning with Ennis-Athenry and Athenry-Tuam. The reopening of these sections has been included in the Transport 21 infrastructural plan, and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 "Transforming Ireland - A Better Quality of Life for All".
Route and services
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The Western Rail Corridor encompasses railways built by various companies throughout the late 1800s, forming a line from Limerick to Sligo. Towns along the WRC include Ennis, Gort, Athenry, Tuam and Claremorris. The route crosses the Dublin–Galway line at Athenry, the Dublin–Westport/Ballina line at Claremorris, and the Dublin–Sligo line at Collooney. The route largely parallels the corridor served by the N17 and N18 roads. Passenger services between Claremorris and Collooney ended in 1963, with the section being closed completely in 1975 (the track was left in situ but severed at Collooney). Passenger services between Limerick and Claremorris ceased in 1976. In December 2003 a new seven/eight train a day service (seven days a week) started between Limerick and Ennis (connecting or continuing to/from Dublin or Limerick Junction).
Rail Freight Services
Freight services ran regularly on the Limerick to Claremorris section until the mid 1990s. However with the closure of the Asahi factory near Ballina, regular freight services north of Athenry ceased in 1997. Fertiliser trains from Foynes continued to use the line as far as Athenry until 2000 and bulk cement trains from the Irish Cements Ltd Castlemungret factory near Limerick until 2001, when the line ceased to have any regular traffic. In 2002 the section from Athenry to Claremorris was severed at Athenry during re-signalling of the Galway line. Container freight from Mayo has returned to the railway since 2006. Coillte, together with Mayo Industries group export several thousand container loads via Waterford port (Ireland's only rail connected port).
Debate on the need for the Corridor
Overview
The reopening of the Western Rail Corridor has raised debate in Ireland, with opinion clearly divided on the benefits of the scheme.
Arguments in favour of reopening the corridor:
Arguments in favour are generally advocating a balanced development of the regions vis a vis Dublin and the importance of infrastructure in so doing . The lobby group WestOnTrack is leading the campaign to reopen the corridor.
- The Western Rail Corridor has been supported by all the main political parties and by the local and regional authorities of the counties through which it passes.
- The case for its reopening has been articulated (Op-ed) in the Irish Times [1][2][3], in the Sunday Independent[4] , by the Irish Hotels Federation[5], in the Irish Independent[6], in the Western People[7], and in the findings of a TG4 opinion poll[8].
Arguments against reopening the Corridor
Arguments against the reopening centre mostly on questioning the wisdom of providing train services given the dispersed population patterns of the region.
- Questions have been raised about its viability in an editorial in the Irish Times,[9] by an article in the Irish Independent,[10], by the lobby group, Platform 11[11] and by the Strategic Rail Review, 2003.
- Critics say that southern sections of the scheme are more viable than those closer to Sligo.[12]
Passenger numbers
Supporters of the project predict that passenger numbers will be high enough to meet operational costs (see 8 above).[13]
Opponents of the project counter that the railway would have few passengers and require an annual subsidy.[14]
Rail or Motorway comparison
Social benefits
The presumed social benefits of restoring this rail service have been presented as an argument in favour of the project. The argument is that even if the line is not profitable, it will provide a vital social service for a poorly served region of the country.
Project opponents argue that social benefits will only be gained if the service is popular and return to their predictions of low passenger numbers (see above). Some also argue with the assumption that the West is receiving less than its fair share of government capital spending.
Report on transport budget underspend in the West of Ireland
A mid-term evaluation of the Irish government's National Development Plan by the consultants INDECON, is cited by some parties as a reason to build the Western Rail Corridor.[1], [2]
The report stated that only half the forecast NDP transport investment in the BMW region for the period 2000-2006 was spent or committed to be spent by 2002 , a shortfall of €364 million. As Transport projects have long lead times this report indicated that the relative shortfall in Transport expenditure would be maintained over the course of the planning period to 2006 .
Detailed Statistics breaking out the INDECON data were prepared by Mr Frank Dawson who is now the Roscommon County Manager
Reliability of the McCann Expert Working Group report
Lobbyists for the project point to the recommendations of this report commissioned by the minister for transport as evidence that the project is justified.
However, Frank McDonald in an article in the Irish Times,[14] based on information released under the Freedom of Information Act indicated that the report was rewritten to exclude any negative assessment of the viability of the project including a forecast that it would 'attract only 750 passengers per day and could require an annual subvention of up to €10 million'. Passenger numbers for the first section of the line between Ennis-limerick now exceed 240,000 pa, which suggests that the partonage of the full line will be higher than first thought.
Criticisms of the Report have included the reliance on anecdotal testimony regarding freight demand and the absence of costings for rolling stock and operating expenses.[15]
A cost-benefit analysis report prepared by Goodbody Economic Consultants for the Department of Transport in 2006 stated that passenger numbers on the soon to be opened Ennis-Athenry section of the WRC would be in the order of 200,000, requiring an annual subvention of €2.4m, with a negative Net Present Value of -€137m. The report concluded that even a doubling of patronage would not make the project viable on cost-benefit grounds, while the regional development benefits from the re-opening were viewed as 'unlikely to be significant' [16]
The effect of freight
The McCann Report suggests that the Ennis Claremorris Section could divert and grow Mayo to Waterford freight traffic via the Western Rail Corridor. [3]
Opponents argue that rail freight volumes in the country have dropped near to zero in recent years and that indirect freight routes already exist from most large towns in the region.[17] The fact that 16,000 lorry movements between Mayo and Waterford have diverted from road to rail along existing rail lines during the past year [18] vindicates the stance that the WRC is not a prerequisite for facilitating railfreight flows in the west of Ireland. The Irish Exporters Association representative Mr Howard Knott announced at the Western Rail Corridor Conference on May 1 2009 that two additional freight services from Mayo to North Wall in Dublin will become operational from County Mayo in the coming months. These services would not use any present or future sections of the WRC.
Predicted results of the project
Supporters predict environmental and economic benefits will flow from increased tourism and industry following the line's successful restoration.
Opponents predict that, following the failure of the line to attract significant passenger numbers, future rail projects will have difficulty gaining funding in Ireland.
Infrastructure before development
Advocates of the project argue that key transport infrastructure should be built prior to development and may actually encourage development to take place. Land use and settlement strategies are in place in all of the counties along the route of the WRC as a result of direct initiatives by the County Development Boards and County Councils concerned. In addition the WRC is specified as a key infrastructural objective in the County Development Plans of Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo as well as the Regional Planning Guidelines of the West Regional Authority [4].
Project opponents, however, argue that the local councils are not following land use policies that would create centres of population density around the railway stations along this route, but instead are continuing to permit isolated rural housing.
Timeline for the reopening of the corridor
The Expert Working Group Report
An Expert Working Group, headed by Pat McCann, CEO of Jurys Doyle Hotels, reported to the Minister for Transport regarding the prospects for reopening some or all of the route. The group was set up by Minister Séamus Brennan at the urging of West-on-Track in June 2004 and delivered its report to Minister Martin Cullen in May 2005.
The report recommended the reopening of most of the Corridor in three phases and the deferral of the reopening of the northernmost section:[19]
Phase 1: Ennis to Athenry
58 km / 36 miles (€74.7 million)
Phase 2: Athenry to Tuam
25 km / 15.5 miles (€34.7 million)
Phase 3: Tuam to Claremorris
(subject to study of rail freight demand or in conjunction with phase 2)
27 km / 17 miles (€58.9 million)
Phase 4: Collooney to Claremorris
(subject to further feasibility studies and possibly justifiable on the grounds of balanced regional development)
74.43 km / 46.25 miles (€197.4 million)
Transport 21
On 1 November 2005 the Transport 21 plan was launched committing government expenditure of 34 billion euro between 2006 and 2015 on road, rail and light rail projects. The Western Railway Corridor commitments under this plan are largely those recommended by the McCann Report. These are:
- 2009 - Opening of Ennis-Athenry section
- 2011 - Opening of Athenry-Tuam section
- 2014 - Opening of Tuam-Claremorris section
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen also also announced the undertaking of a feasibility study into a rail link for Shannon International Airport in his speech at the launch. This study, undertaken by MVA Consultants, estimated the proposed link would cost €700m, while an Irish Rail manager stated that 'the costs of the construction of the rail link are out of proportion to the benefits to be gained'. [20]
Progress of works
Following preliminary works in Winter and Spring of 2005-2006, official clearance work on the northern section of the line (Claremorris to Collooney) began on the 18th September 2006. The purpose of the works was to re-establish the boundaries, prevent further deterioration of the line section and prevent any development that may otherwise impinge on the proposed detailed works required for the reopening of the line. Specifically, the works included fencing, hedge cutting, renewal of level crossing gates as well as the provision of some essential drainage, removal of ivy and overgrowth from bridges and the provision of mile posts. [5]
On 26 September 2006, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announced Government approval of funding for the reopening of the Ennis–Athenry section of the WRC, as well as the Athenry–Tuam section.[21] Iarnród Éireann is to proceed with detailed planning and design of the project, including consultation with land owners and local authorities, as well as design of bridges and level crossings.
Renewal of track commenced in 2007 on the line between Ennis and Athenry. This is now complete and after a gap of more than thirty years, train services between the cities of Galway and Limerick will recommence in August 2009, with 5 trains per day between Galway and Limerick. The rebuilding of the line has come in on budget, at a cost of €106.5m.
The Ennis to Athenry railway will serve Limerick, Ennis, Athenry and Galway, as well as new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. In addition, it will expand commuter links to Limerick and Galway. The Limerick to Galway service will also feed into expanded intercity services between Limerick and Dublin and between Galway and Dublin. Both routes are set for hourly services at peak and two hourly off-peak by 2009.
The investment project to be delivered by Iarnród Éireann involves a renewal of 58 km (36 mi) of track, including all necessary fencing and drainage and the installation of points and crossings at Gort and Ennis. A single 90 metres platform with furniture, shelter, signage, car park, PA, customer information systems, help point and CCTV provision will be provided at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell. These stations will also be accessible to the mobility impaired.
Customer Information Systems, PA, help-point and CCTV will be provided at Athenry and Ennis stations. Repair and improvement work will be undertaken on bridges on the route to allow rail services to operate. There will also be modernised signalling systems and improvement to level crossings.
The route from Ennis to Claremorris has now been approved under Transport 21 and part of the construction has already been funded and is nearing completion ( May 2009) . The middle section , Athenry - Claremorris , has been programmed but not funded under Transport 21 while the Colooney - Claremorris northern section has not been programmed or funded bar some line clearance work in 2006.
See also
- WestOnTrack
- Iarnród Éireann
- Rail transport in Ireland
- History of rail transport in Ireland
- Platform 11
- West rail
References
- Johnson, S. (1997). Johnson's Atlas & Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland, Midland Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85780-044-3.
- Current timetables (Limerick–Ennis service) from Iarnród Éireann website
- Report to the Minister for Transport from the Chairman of the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor (WRC), May 2005 from The Department of Transport
- ^ Restored Western Rail Corridor will reinvigorate west Irish Times, 21 May 2005
- ^ Let's put the west back on track Irish Times, 12 Jun 2006
- ^ Decentralisation, the WRC and Regional Development Irish Times 19 Jun 2006
- ^ 'Lack of road and rail links' killing tourism in west Sunday Independent, 14 Aug 2005
- ^ Plans for Increased Regional Access Vital for Tourism Spread throughout Ireland IHF Galway branch press release, 13 Feb 2006
- ^ Gridlock in Galway City Irish Independent (Letters), 14 Aug 2006
- ^ Students call for Western Rail Corridor to re-open Western People, 6 Sep 2006
- ^ Opinion Poll Findings show Significant Passenger Demand for Western Rail Corridor MRBI/TG4 Press Release, 31 Oct 2006
- ^ Editorial in the Irish Times 9 Jun 2006 (subscription required)
- ^ 'Ladybird' WRC report a one-track journey into madness Irish Independent, 16 May 2005
- ^ Platform 11's Position on the Western Rail Corridor
- ^ The Merits of a Cycleway Not A Railway Western People Letters Quoting Minister O Cuiv speech , 20 May 2009
- ^ West=On=Track estimates of running costs and ticket revenues
- ^ a b Government Ignored Doubts over Western Rail Corridor
- ^ "Transparency essential for PPPs". Retrieved 2006-05-24.
- ^ "Goodbody Economic Consultants: Audit of the Business Case for the Reintroduction of Passenger Rail Services between Ennis and Athenry" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ^ "Trinity College Student Economic Review 2006: An Economic Analysis of the Western Rail Corridor". (PDF)
- ^ Presentation by Mr Howard Knott to the Western Rail Conference 1 May 2009
- ^ McCann, Pat. "Report to the Minister for Transport from the Chairman of the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-24.
- ^ "Limerick Rail Link to Airport ruled out in Study".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Cullen gives Iarnród Éireann go ahead to begin work on Western Rail Corridor - Department of Transport.