Sir, – More people than ever are using the rail system in Ireland. One example of the capacity limitations in the system is the line from Limerick to Galway.
Reports are common of overcrowding on trains leaving both ends of the line. For example, on Sunday evening (December 11th) close to 300 passengers left Galway on a train with a total of 190 seats.
The service which reopened in the teeth of recession gripped Ireland in 2010 has flourished in latter years.
This is despite the limitations of the current service. These include the use of older commuter rolling stock, relatively long journey times, a line liable to flooding in Ballycar and just five return services daily.
The line was built to carry trains at 80 m/ph but the reality is far from this. Removal of level crossings and the installation of extra passing loops will significantly improve the capacity and frequency of the service, combined with greater platform lengths.
If the National Transport Authority deem it necessary to build a dual-carriageway between two towns in west Mayo then surely they can justify a relatively small investment to give a significantly improved and frequent rail service between Ireland’s third and fourth biggest cities. – Yours, etc,
ULTAN KEADY,
Caherlistrane,
Co Galway.