Sir, - I note that the last railway link from Cavan (Kingscourt) to Navan was closed on October 30th. I have also noted that there is a keen interest in re-opening lines such as Mullingar to Athlone, Limerick to Sligo etc. I wonder if the responsible authorities rather than abandoning these lines might consider leasing them to responsible voluntary groups with the object of re-opening same as tourist attractions.
One matter of great importance not being mentioned is the total lack of any rail service to the north-western counties. The Bundoran line, which was used to serve the busy towns of Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh/Tyrone and Donegal, should be re-laid.
These counties are valuable tourist and commercial areas with busy commuting passengers who have been deprived of rail services since 1960. Why not accept that mistakes were made in 1960 and start the work of restoration now.
The project would be self financing in the long run and anyway why should the residents of these counties be treated as lesser citizens of this country in the interest of national economics. - Yours, etc.,
Damien F Cassidy, Irishtown Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4.