Sir, - While welcoming long overdue investment in rail infrastructure ("Heuston to have four new platforms", The Irish Times, February 15th), I wish to point out that, in my view, these proposals have very serious shortcomings.
Central to this new rail plan is the Kildare Route Project. Last year Iarnród Éireann advertised this development as an initiative "to increase services between the suburbs and the city centre".
As it stands, however, the plan omits the city's biggest suburb - Ballyfermot. It also omits the suburb of Inchicore, the heart of railway history in the city. In fact the platform which stood here and facilitated occasional services in the past is to be removed as part of this new suburban rail scheme.
The Government and Irish Rail should think again. In planning new suburban rail services the authorities should endeavour to include rather than exclude communities with high public transport needs that are situated adjacent to rail infrastructure. - Yours, etc.,
Ald MICHAEL CONAGHAN,
Lally Road,
Dublin 10.