West=On=Track
-News
Minister Killeen Proposes
Rail Stop at Crusheen, County Clare
Iarnród
Éireann to consider costs and benefits of proposed
stop
County Clare, Sunday November 12th 2006 - Mr. Tony
Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Employment has proposed that a rail stop be
provided in Crusheen village on the Ennis to Athenry section
of the Western Rail Corridor project. Minister Killeen
presented the proposal to Iarnród Éireann this
week after receiving strong representations from community
groups and constituents in Crusheen and elsewhere in the
North Clare area.
Earlier this year, the Government approved funding for
the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western
Rail Corridor, as well as the Athenry-Tuam section. Track
renewal works on the Ennis to Athenry section are due to
begin early next year. Once completed in 2008, an expected
seven trains per day will travel from Ennis to Athenry with
stops at Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell.
Commenting on the need to provide a rail stop in
Crusheen, Minister Killeen stated, "Two stops are being
provided for between Gort and Athenry and none on the very
long stretch of railway between Ennis to Gort. Crusheen is
an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Corofin,
Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in north Clare as well as Tulla
and other areas of East Clare."
The Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare T.D. added,
"The costs associated with establishing and maintaining the
proposed railway stop would not be excessive. The provision
of a ticket vending machine, for example, would lessen the
need for the stop to be manned on a full-time basis."
In response to Minister Killeen's proposal, Chairman of
Iarnród Éireann J.J. Lynch this week confirmed
he would be requesting the managers responsible for the
Western Rail Corridor to assess the costs and benefits of
establishing a rail stop in Crusheen.
"I welcome Mr Lynch's commitment to assessing the
viability of establishing a rail stop in Crusheen. Such a
development would have enormous economic and social benefits
for Crusheen and its surrounding hinterland. It would
contribute to reducing the number of cars on our roads and
it would provide commuters in these areas with a direct rail
link to Galway City, Athenry, Ennis and Limerick City",
Minister Killeen concluded.
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