Madam, – The campaign to re-open the Galway-Limerick train line and the wider development of the Western Rail Corridor has been a long time coming.
Now that Phase One of the line is open, it is important that we park the discussion about the economic viability of the line and begin to drive passengers, freight, and users to it to ensure that it becomes a vital piece of transport infrastructure for the west.
It is pointless to invest so much money, time, and effort in the re-development of the line if we are to turn round and make short- term decisions about its future based on how many people use it from the off.
We should focus on the long- term goal of moving toward sustainable modes of transport and shift away from our over-reliance on the private car.
That is why I am a little concerned at comments from the Department of Transport that rail lines would be closed and services suspended if there is insufficient user demand. To me, that sounds like starting off from the wrong point.
We must do all in our power to ensure that the same fate does not befall the Western Rail Corridor as the Waterford-Rosslare line that will shortly close due to insufficient demand.
The last thing we need are any more ghost train lines on our network. Rather we require a positive and wholehearted commitment to making rail traffic work. – Yours, etc,