West=On=Track - News

Introduction of new Galway train services welcomed

Tuam Herald - Thurs 2nd December 2004

THE introduction of four new train services in Galway has been welcomed by the Chairman of Galway County Development Board Cllr Colm Keaveney.

Cllr Keaveney said that a priority of the County Development Strategy was to grow the role of railways in the improvement of access and public transport. He was happy that through a close working relationship with the Board, Iarnród Eireann had decided to introduce an early morning and late evening return train service between the Midlands and Galway.

This new service means it will be possible to reach the city by rail from Athlone, Ballinasloe, Woodlawn, Attymon and Athenry at 08.20 and leave the City up to 21.10 in the evening. This will suit a wide range of people including workers, students, businesses and those with hospital appointments. "We very much appreciate the co-operation of Iarnród Eireann in this regard and consider this to be a most progressive step towards a formal commuter service in the future," he said.

Galway County Development Board is represented on the Expert Working Group appointed by the Minister for Transport to examine the prospects of re-opening the Western Rail Corridor which if successful, will bring Gort and Tuam back into the rail network. The Working Group is due to report to the Minister early in the new year.

Director of Services with the County Development Board Frank Dawson in welcoming the Iarnród Eireann decision urged strong community support for the new services and reminded people that the railway offers the fastest and safest form of surface transport in Galway today.