A case could be made for the retention of the old Western Rail Corridor if the Government gave a commitment to providing access to both Knock and Shannon airports.
This is the view of a highly regarded senior engineer who has drawn up a plan for greenway routes in County Galway which he believes would provide a huge economic boost for rural areas.
But in his submission, he has ruled out the possibility of the Tuam to Athenry railway track being transformed into a greenway on the basis that it still had potential for passenger traffic if used correctly.
Senior engineer Martin Lavelle, formerly with Galway County Council, believes that the Western Rail Corridor should be maintained as a strategic route that would not along serve the two airports but also third level colleges in the city as well as the new town of Ardaun, which will have between 20,000 and 30,000 residents.
There is a campaign to transform the Tuam to Athenry section of rail into a walking and cycling greenway but Mr Lavelle is totally opposed to this. He believes that this piece of infrastructure could be used to provide a link to Knock Airport.
He has wide-ranging suggestions for the Western Rail Corridor infrastructure that is in place including the provision of a service to the Oranmore Industrial Area, a commuter railway that would serve GMIT, the Bon Secours Hospital and Renmore while providing a more efficient service to NUIG and University Hospital.
“Students could attend college without relocating to Galway City. Young people could remain in the rural landscape, live at home and attend college at far lower costs on their parents.
“This would reduce traffic congestion into the city and reduce house prices as accommodation demand would be lowered.
“Tuam and Athenry would be about 40 minutes from GMIT and NUIG. Developers could provide student accommodation in these locations at a lower cost than in city. It would be a way of keeping the youth in the rural areas,” Mr Lavelle told The Connacht Tribune.
He then is suggesting the extension of the Western Rail Corridor into Knock Airport – it would involve the provision of a 5km link off the existing track – while also constructing a rail line into Shannon Airport at the other end.
He said that public transport access to the two main airports on the western seaboard could be provided for the majority of people living in Connacht. He believes the service would pay for itself over time.
“Why should the west of Ireland give up this existing infrastructure, when we already have it?
“Dublin Airport is looking for such connectivity into the city centre, while some people in Connacht are arguing against our future by shutting down the Western Rail Corridor with potential links into existing major airports,” Mr Lavelle added.
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