This article is from page 8 of the 2008-03-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
PASSENGER numbers on the En- nis-Limerick line have increased by almost 40 per cent since the line was re-opened in 2004.
Figures released yesterday by Irish Rail show that 200,000 journeys were made on the line last year, an increase of 39 per cent on the 144,000 journeys that were recorded on the line in its first full year of op- eration in 2004.
According to the Irish Rail Busi- ness Manager for the mid-west, Jim Gallivan, the 200,000 journeys that were recorded on the line last year represented an increase of 20,000 on the 180,000 journeys recorded in paul ete?
The 2006 figure was, in turn, an increase on the 166,000 journeys on 2005.
‘The steady increase is very posi- tive as it reflects that passenger num- bers on the line are on a continuous upward graph,” said Mr Gallivan.
However, the line has been closed since the first week of February due to flooding.
Mr Gallivan yesterday conceded that, at the earliest, it would be March 15 or 16 before the line would be re- opened. “All we can say at this time is that the line will be re-opened in March, sometime after those dates.”
Mr Gallivan confirmed that it was costing Irish Rail €4,000 to €5,000 a week to provide buses to replicate the train timetable. He also con-
firmed that there had been a 20 per cent drop off in passengers who were opting not to take the replacement bus service.
Mr Gallivan confirmed that the Office of Public Works (OPW) had engaged consultants to carry out an assessment of the flooding at the scene. He said passenger traffic on the rail-line had allowed Irish Rail to meet all operational costs in running the service. The service was facing increased competition from road transport but at peak-time, the train was the fastest method by far of get- ting into Limerick.
“If you are travelling by road when you get to the Coonagh roundabout outside Limerick, it could take you 10 minutes or an hour,’ he said.