This article is from page 6 of the 2009-05-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE likelihood of a Crusheen stop being included in the Western Rail Corridor now looks unlikely in the short term following the omission of a platform from a new planning ap- plication lodged by Iarnrod Eireann.
Late last month the rail company lodged a planning application with Clare County Council for the con- struction of a bridge over the Limer- ick-Galway Railway line at Crusheen along with a new agricultural access road, site clearance, earthworks, bridge and pavement construction.
The omission from this application of platform works now makes it very unlikely that Iarnrod Eireann plan to develop a stop in Crusheen in the near future.
The Crusheen stop on the Western Rail Corridor was mentioned at last month’s West on Track AGM and lo- cals are still hopeful that a stop will be introduced sooner or later.
“As far aS we are concerned the campaign continues. We keep in regular contact with the relevant authorities and ministers and at the moment there is no update on the sit- uation. But we are still hopeful,” said Mike O’Doherty, chairperson of the Crusheen Development Association.
“It was mentioned at the West on Track conference last month and we are committed to continuing the campaign. We do recognise that we are now in very different economic times than we were just a short time ago, but we also recognise that the
need for a stop at Crusheen has not declined.”
Last month the rail company indi- cated that it would be pressing for- ward with the instigation of the Gal- way to Ennis section of the rail line this summer, even if the Gort rail station is not completed on time.
Jarnrod Eireann later confirmed that it did expect the Gort station on time.
Meanwhile, a number of critical factors must be put in place over the coming months to ensure that the maximum number of passengers take-up the Western Rail Corridor.
According to Lisa McAllister, Chief Executive of the Western De- velopment Commission, quality park and ride facilities are essential to the Ube ENE eots
“Schedules and timetables must be devised to meet consumer demand. Quality rolling stock, good park and ride facilities, and creative pricing and effective marketing to promote the new rail services will be the final ingredients in delivering a service that caters for customer demand,” SJ alemcrenten