Sir, – As a pro-rail campaigner, I read with interest your editorial on turning the western rail corridor into a greenway (January 12th).
In order to merit consideration, such a proposal would need to be advanced and supported by the relevant county councils. There is no such support from the local authorities in the west. Galway County Council and Mayo County Councils have repeatedly rejected any such notion in line with their county development plans and the regional planning guidelines which favour the development of the railway.
There are reportedly 38 greenway proposals under consideration by the Government. A shortlist of 10 was recently published but did not contain any proposal to establish a greenway on the western rail corridor.
There is also the problem of suitability. The western rail corridor crosses many national primary and secondary main roads making it entirely unsuitable for the creation of a safe walking or cycling path for families or older people.
Given the current traffic flow statistics it is difficult to envisage people safely cycling or walking across the N17, which crosses the railway in at least seven places between Collooney and Tuam, or the N5, which crosses near Swinford, not to mention a host of secondary road crossings, including the N60 main Claremorris-Castlebar road or the R332 Tuam-Ballinrobe road.
There are many safer and more suitable places in the west where greenways could be developed without destroying a key piece of regional infrastructure. – Yours, etc,
COLMÁN
Ó RAGHALLAIGH,
West on Track,
Claremorris,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – Peter Bowen-Walsh (January 19th) suggested that the Sligo Way be used as an alternative to the proposed disused railway. As the operator of a bicycle hire and cycle tour company in Co Sligo, I can confidently say that the Sligo Way is totally unsuitable for the proposed route. Its route crosses the Ox mountains, various rivers, streams and public roads. Although a good suggestion for a walking route, which it already is, it is totally unsuitable for cycling.
Ultimately, the preparation of this route to accommodate safely the cycling public, if possible, would cost vastly more than the development of the Western Rail Trail.
All too often I hear complaints about the lack of resources and employment in Sligo and Mayo. We need new initiatives to create jobs and prevent further decline in local populations. I believe the solution is staring us in the face; the Western Rail Trail has been sitting patiently for 30 years and remains totally in public ownership.
It simply could not be more obvious. – Yours, etc,
JARLATH GANTLY,
Managing Director,
Wild Atlantic Ways,
Ted Nealon Road,
Sligo.
Sir, – The supportive editorial for a greenway on the route of the western rail corridor north of Tuam was very welcome.
However, you suggested a commuter route from Athenry to Tuam could make commercial sense. In two years a new motorway will open linking Tuam to Galway by fast dual-carriageway. Bus journey times will not only be reduced significantly but the removal of the Claregalway bottleneck and high-quality bus lanes into Galway city centre will make the bus highly competitive with any proposed commuter rail service.
If a business case is once again presented to reopen the line from Athenry to Tuam and then onto Claremorris, either based on passenger or freight forecasts, we hope the warning “buyer beware” will be attached to any proposal in large red capital letters.
The Western Rail Trail from Athenry to Collooney will be a huge boost to our tourism trade, so why not just get on with it? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN QUINN,
Enniscrone,
Co Sligo.