Councillors slam ‘bicycle track’ plan for Sligo to Galway rail line saying it will ‘cost millions before being ripped up again’

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

An emergency motion at the September meeting of the Sligo Borough Municpal District on Monday criticised the recent decision by Iarnród Eireann to lease the 35km section of railway linking Coollooney with Bellaghy for the construction of a greenway.

The emergency motion was brought by five of the council’s six councillors and expressed their “shock and dismay” at the U-turn and decision of Iarnród Éireann to lease the 35km section of the railway linking Collooney with Bellaghy for the construction of a greenway.

The motion demanded that Iarnród Éireann immediately rescind “this appalling decision” and Insisted that any proposed greenway be constructed at a safe distance from the rail line.

The motion also called on the Government to prioritise and provide the necessary capital funding for the reopening of the remaining 47 mile Collooney to Claremorris section of the Western Rail Corridor thereby re-opening the entire line, providing an InterCity rail service between the counties and enabling urgent regional development in line with the National Planning Framework strategy.

The motion was signed by Cllrs Declan Bree (Ind), Gino O’Boyle (PBP), Arthur Gibbons (SF), Seamus Kilgannon (FF) and Ann HIggins (Labour) while Cllr Fergal Nealon (FG) abstained.

Speaking to the motion, Cllr Bree said, “The vast majority of people in this town and county were deeply shocked to learn of Iarnród Éireann’s decision to lease the 35-kilometre section of the Western Rail Corridor linking Collooney with Bellaghy for the construction of a greenway.

“People are at a loss to understand why the government would want this critical rail infrastructure effectively removed. This decision comes at a time when there is clear, widespread recognition that rail transport is the sustainable way forward for Sligo and the entire region.

“Just nine months ago, members of the Council and the wider community welcomed confirmation that the extension of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Claremorris was to commence as a priority project for completion by 2030. That decision essentially meant the only piece of the corridor left to reopen was the 47-mile section linking Claremorris to Collooney.

“We further welcomed the assurance from Iarnród Éireann that the track from Claremorris to Sligo would be protected for future rail use, as set out in the Regional Spatial Economic Strategy (RSES).

“The goal was clear: developing a freight and passenger railway connecting Sligo to Galway and serving Ireland West Airport. At the time, the offer by Iarnród Éireann to allow a greenway or bicycle track alongside the line, at a safe distance from the tracks, was widely acknowledged as a win-win.

“Yet, here we are, just nine months later, facing a massive U-turn with a proposal to build a greenway directly on top of the railway line.

“Now, of course, we know the reason why. Our three local government T.D.s, two of them Ministers of State, have made it abundantly clear that they are happy to accept crumbs off the table.

“They are content to accept a bicycle track rather than fight for a railway. I ask you: in what other constituency in this country would T.D.s turn their backs on a railway in favour of a bicycle path?”

Hitting out at the role played and “the lack of ambition” displayed by Ministers Frank Feighan and Marian Harkin and Deputy Eamon Scanlon, Cllr Bree continued, “I make no apology for saying it: our three government TDs have betrayed the interests of the people of Sligo.

“How, in the name of goodness, can our local representatives claim a bicycle track to Sligo is acceptable, just as work is about to commence on restoring the next phase of the railway from Galway to Claremorris?

“Government T.Ds, Senators, and councillors in Galway and Mayo have all declared their total support for opening the entire Western Rail Corridor from Galway to Sligo because they recognise the immense economic benefits it will bring to the West.

“Yet, it is painfully clear that our own government TDs have no ambition, no aspiration, and no targets for this county. They are content to sit back and watch the people of Sligo be treated as second-class citizens.

“Let me make one thing clear: the people of this town and county will not accept a bicycle track on our rail line. We want a railway, and we deserve a railway.”

The total cost to reopen the Western Rail Corridor from Claremorris to Collooney and Sligo, which includes a 40 percent contingency fund, is estimated as €480 million. That amounts to roughly €6.3 million per kilometre.

He added:“In comparison, we are told that a single kilometre of the proposed Dublin Metro will cost approximately €875 million.

“The people of Sligo need to take note of this stark reality: the cost of developing just one single kilometre of the Dublin Metro would completely cover the reopening of the entire Western Rail Corridor from Sligo to Galway.

“”Given that government tax revenues increased by 8.9 percent last year, handing the state an extra €8.6 billion, there is absolutely no financial excuse for withholding funding to reopen the line from Collooney to Bellaghy.

Cllr Bree concluded by insisting immediate steps must be taken to progress the rail connection along the west coast saying, “Sligo, Mayo, and the West have waited long enough for proper infrastructure and fair investment. We must now work collectively with our colleagues in Mayo and Galway to demand that government takes immediate steps to bring forward proposals to complete the remaining section of the Western Rail Corridor from Claremorris to Collooney.”

Cllr Arthur Gibbons also spoke in favour of the motion as he hit out local TDs who supported the initiative saying, “We have two Junior Ministers who are supposed to be supporting Sligo for investment.”

Cllr Gibbons questioned the logic of investing in a “bicycle track”, “Which is supposed to be temporary and will cost millions before being ripped up again.”

He insisted local TDs should be “fighting tooth and nail” for a rail line that connects the west coast, saying, “Look at the freight it would take off the road. The train makes perfect sense.”

Cllr Gibbons continued, “If you were an investor, looking in you would see a limited harbour and a limited rail line. Everything is negative, this was very positive. I am shocked to think the stance taken by our three (government) politicians.”

Cllr Gino O’Boyle also voiced his support for the emergency motion saying, “It is time that people stopped turning their backs on the people of Sligo.”

The motion also received the backing of Cllr Seamus Kilgannon who said, “I am one of those people that is in favour of having a greenway and a railway.”

Referring to the criticism of the decision by Mayo councillors, Cllr Kilgannon remarked, “We should be lobbying with Donegal to get railway as far as Derry. Why should we not be able to get a train from here all around the country.”

Cllr Kilgannon told the meeting he queried the decision of the three government TDs in relation to backing the plan for the greenway on the existing line saying, “I was told Irish Rail would not support developing a railway until 2050.”

Cllr Fergal Nealon noted the emergency motion was only presented to him prior to the meeting saying he would have preferred more time to consider it before supporting and as a result was not supporting it.

He noted the matter will be returned to at an upcoming meeting of the County Council, adding, “I look forward to a healthy and robust debate.”

Cllr Nealon did speak to defend his party colleague, Minister Feighan saying, “Questioning people’s commitment to this region will not stand up. Frank Feighan is one of the most hardworking and genuine people for this region.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.