ANTHONY J. FINNIN,
Madam, - Further to Fintan Tuohy's letter (November 27th) on the Ballybrophy-Limerick Line, the reason that a new motorway is needed between Limerick and Nenagh, according to the NRA, is that the present road will reach saturation point in the next few years.
Recently published figures show 50per cent of traffic on the road travels the whole way from Limerick to Nenagh, (a further 30 per cent + joins en route) and the road is classified as a commuter route.
There are two ways to relieve pressure, one is to build a new road with a capacity to carry three times the volume ever expected. The other is to put a commuter service onto the railway and so reduce road traffic. €300 million for the first; €10-15 million for the second.
I leave it to your readers to decide which is the prudent choice in the present economic climate. - Yours, etc.
B.J. HODKINSON, Birdhill, Co. Tipperary.
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Madam, - It is only when one looks at the likely shape of the National Spatial Strategy does it become clear that a high-speed, dual-line railtrack between Cork and Derry is a necessity that would serve not only the two other existing cities in the West, Limerick and Galway, but the proposed cities of Athlone, Sligo, and Letterkenny as well. It would also serve six of the smaller growth centres along the west coast.
If Athlone were to be used as a central hub for this service then, not only the west coast but the entire midlands would be opened up for future developement.
The advantages of this rail link are self-evident, less traffic of all kinds on the roads, especially freight, less than one hour travelling time between the major cities along the route, as well as more tourism, and all this for the cost of two, maybe three bypasses. It's high time the Government as well as Iarnrod Éireann looked to the future, if that's possible. - Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY J. FINNIN, Rock Place, John Carew Park, Southill, Limerick.