Ciarán FerrieFeb 9, 2023

Ciaran Cannon TD notes that the feasibility study for twin-tracking the Athenry to Galway rail line is now two years overdue, and has been tied up in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which itself is overdue and cannot be published until there is an executive in Stormont.

And today we are hearing that restoration of the executive has been postponed for another year.

I despair! 😫

#ClimateEmergency #SustainableTransport #Galway #NIExecutive

https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2023-01-31a.32#g83

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business: 31 Jan 2023: Dáil debates (KildareStreet.com)

A site about the Houses of the Oireachtas that you can actually follow.

Show threadPetrichor ᚄᚔᚅᚐᚁᚆᚃᚒᚔᚂ
@ccferrie Against the Famine and the Crown, I rebelled… eh, wait a minute, *Stormont*? What's Stormont got to do with the Galway midlands?
Feb 11, 2023 at 8:40amWeb
Show threadCiarán FerrieFeb 11, 2023
@sinabhfuil is OK, they've found a workaround. A draft of the All-Island Rail Strategy Review will be published shortly which will hopefully confirm the feasibility of the Athenry-Galway upgrade and allow it to proceed
Show threadMarkFeb 11, 2023

@ccferrie @sinabhfuil It’s all feasible if you decide to push rail as a real option and make the timetabling work.

Hoping for Waterford to Rosslare/Wexford myself. But the real money is in the entire western seaboard connected down to the south east ports plus sail rail.

Show threadMike MorrisFeb 11, 2023

@mark @ccferrie @sinabhfuil Word is that will get the go-ahead. Other long-term viable lines won't, though :( (e.g. Youghal, Bandon)

I think the thing missing from these conversations is that (anecdotal evidence alert) there's a high percentage of people currently driving who would happily take the train, but would sooner do their own dentistry than take a bus. Bit odd but there you go.

Show threadjanmcFeb 11, 2023
@MikeMorris @mark @ccferrie @sinabhfuil I hate the bus, count me as an odd one. City bus like Dublin bus is fine, hate coaches.
Show threadMarkFeb 11, 2023

@MikeMorris @ccferrie @sinabhfuil Well at least if we can get an orbital route going first.

Re the bus and dentistry, I think that’s sadly true. Real stigma about it for some. But while my local bus is excellent and almost always on time, it is also true that in Ireland we have a culture of “you can let a bus be cancelled or delayed without explanation” but if a train is a no show it’s a scandal.

That’s one of the main reasons why people want trams and trains.