In tandem with the proposal for a western rail corridor are plans for linked local commuter services in a number of counties, which would relieve traffic congestion and encourage development.
Reopening the Sligo-Limerick line could also help put more freight back on the railways and off the roads, a trend being encouraged through financial incentives in many other EU states. Rail freight is declining rapidly here and there is no State subvention.
In Sligo, a local group has already succeeded in getting a feasibility study carried out by London-based consultants Halcrow into a commuter line from Ballymote to Sligo. The plan has now been fully costed, and the study concluded that the economic benefits would more than offset the capital and subsidy costs. It would involve making greater use of the existing Sligo-Dublin line.
The chairman of the South Sligo Rapid Transit Group, Mr Tim Mulcahy, said it was an innovative and viable plan. This proposal was also included in the strategic rail study announced by Ms Mary O'Rourke in January, but Mr Mulcahy said he was concerned that by commissioning another report, the Government was just "kicking for touch".
In Galway, a proposal has been formulated for an east Galway rail commuter service. Mr Frank Dawson, director of community and enterprise with Galway County Council, said the proposal would help address the current situation where there was a brand new rail track going through some of the most built-up areas close to the city and yet the first train arrived in Galway at 10.13 a.m.
While there was serious traffic congestion on the roads, the rail line was idle from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.
The proposal envisages using a two-car Arrow train to run an early-bird service from Athlone to Galway, to arrive at 8.10 a.m., and then to continue services from Oranmore to Galway throughout the day.
Mr Dawson said 144 of the new Arrow trains were being bought by the Government. About 40 have already been delivered; of these 142 will be used in the Dublin area and the remaining two in Cork. In its submission to the Strategic Rail Study, the Western Development Commission, among others, highlighted how the western rail corridor could help get freight off the roads and onto rail.