This article is from page 9 of the 2013-07-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
IARNRÓD Éireann has been told to come up with a plan to fix the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor.
Despite an overall increase of 7 per cent on the numbers travelling between Limerick and Galway last year – the section of the track between Ennis and Athenry continues to struggle.
The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly (FG), last week told Iarnród Éireann to get the service back on track. This is the second time in recent months that Minister Kelly has publicly criticised the service.
Campaign group West-On-Track also criticised the rail operator last week for not making the route attractive for commuters. Spokesperson for West On Track, Colmán Ó’Raghaillagh, said that a number of long standing issues – such as online booking – has not yet been addressed.
He also called for a more intigrated connection between the rail and bus timetable and proposed the idea that people could travel from Galway and Limerick to Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher using a combined rail/bus ticket.
“We should have proper inter-city trains [on the route], and a lot of people don’t find it attractive by travelling in older trains,” he said.
“Online booking is still not available after our proposals. It seems odd that you cannot go online in Limerick and book online to save yourself a tenner.
Mr Ó’Raghaillagh also criticised the way that passenger numbers on the service are calculated.
“The measurement of this increase has always been problematic. If you get on the train, on the LimerickGalway line, and get out at Ennis, they won’t count your seat. Likewise, if I get on in Galway and I get out at Athenry, I am also not counted,” he said.
Minister Kelly last week ruled out any move to close the section of track between Ennis and Athenry – which was reopened in 2010.
“The numbers aren’t what we would like. I have spoken to the chief executive of Irish Rail with a view to looking at various different strategies to encourage more to use the line,” he said.