www.westontrack.com

There are a million people between Sligo and Limerick and railways operate in regions of even lower population and no cities at all over Europe and some are private companies that even make a nice profit.

The only place on earth where the population excuse is used to shut railways is Ireland and the UK. Nowhere else does this even come into the picture. They just adapt the rail operations to the needs of the region it serves.

You have been conditioned by the CIE/Lord Beeching mentaility – CIE are idiots who cannot run public transport and do not even understand rail transport. Also people now have cars and they will drive to stations. So the populations of the town surround the station is not an issue as much as it was 50 years ago. For example Limerick Juction should be a major hub with a big car park – but CIE/Irish Rail cannot see this potential.

Also, the WRC connects directly into Ireland’s largest bulk port at Foynes and on the Sligo-Tuam section huge tracts of forestry are reaching maturity. There are already too many lorries on the roads. Something has to be done as the west is little more than a race track for artics at this point and it’s damaging tourism. I was reading a post on a cycling newsgroup where it was pointed out over and over again that Ireland is no good for cycling holidays becuse of the reckless and huge number of tracks on our country roads.

it will be a great asset for the west and will balance the coutry and it tailor-made for the NSS.

The existing railway infrastructure must be saved, this is a campaign well worth supporting. Who knows what population shifts and evolutions will occur in the future.

The reason why there are so many heavy trucks roaring across the country and scaring the bejaysus out of unsuspecting cycle-tourists and indeed the local populace is because there is no suitable roads infrastruture at all in Ireland, yes I’m talking about a decent motorway system that would take you from south to north and east to west
more safely and quickly.

There is a dread of roads in Ireland and I can understand this but we can easily learn from the mistakes made in Britain and mainland Europe i.e. built one motorway, not two.

Good rail and road infrastructure is essential for economical and social growth.

Totally agree with it!!! Just no vision in CIE and spineless politicians. I’d use it and so would the tourists. it needn’t be anything flash, just a good way of getting from a to b.

Somehow it’ll get shot down. I would like the people in the west to use the same determination they applied with Knock airport!!!

Its unbelivable, reading about the development of Luas from its inception, how each government meddled in its plans delaying the project, changing the purpose of the project etc etc – for short term political gain.
The same can be said for our railways, there is never any long term vision.
Ever.

This is due to the fact there is no leadership in this country whatsoever everything is done for short term gain. Why the hell do we need consultants hired again and again to tell us the same common sense things ad infinitum when we have office blocks of civil servants telling us the same thing.

Bertie Ahearn never made a decision in his life, he probably needs a committee report to tell him what socks to wear!! Mr Bloody consensus. All this faffing about is why things are never ever ever built correctly, on time and within budget.

For example – can anyone make sense of the fact that the Harcourt street/St Stephens green section of the luas is not being built on a 24/7 basis to get the thing out the way. Its not a residential area is it? So why not….

For example – can anyone make sense of the fact that the Harcourt street/St Stephens green section of the luas is not being built on a 24/7 basis to get the thing out the way. Its not a residential area is it? So why not…. [/B]

Therea re lots of hotels around here though?