Renewed calls for extra carriages on evening train from Dublin to Sligo

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

This month's meeting of Sligo County Sligo Council heard calls for Irish Rail to improve the evening service departing Dublin for Sligo with additional carriages and to also provide an additional service.

Cllr Dara Mulvey’s motion which called on the Council to write to Irish Rail seeking to provide an evening train out of Dublin between the 5.05pm and 7.30pm services, and to put additional carriages on the 5.05pm service, received widespread support from his fellow Councillors.

Speaking on behalf of his motion Cllr Mulvey said, “The evening service departs Dublin at 5.05pm, arriving in Sligo at 8.23pm which is usually packed to capacity with many commuters left standing which is unfair and not safe. The next train departs Dublin Connolly at 7.32 pm and arrives in Sligo at 10.37 pm This means if workers/students miss the 5.05pm service they have to sit and wait two and a half hours for the next train and with so many commuters who cannot get accommodation in Dublin using the service, this is unacceptable from Irish Rail.

"Also I called on Irish Rail to seek a timeline on the recent announcement that there will be passing loops on the Sligo Dublin line, where are the locations of these passing loops or double tracking locations going to be.”

Cllr Mulvey also called for an improvement to the morning service into Sligo when he said, “I am repeating my previous call also for Irish Rail to provide a morning train service from Connolly Station that would allow people to arrive in Sligo before 9am, considering the University status of Sligo ATU and the lack of student accommodation available and for the many workers who would use that service,” stated Cllr Mulvey.

Cllr Mulvey added, “It is not good enough for Irish Rail to repeatedly hear these concerns and do nothing.”

Cllr Donal Gilroy was in agreement with the motion when he said, “The rail line needs a lot of investment. I welcome the news that the line is being included in the National Development Plan.” He stressed the need for “Additional services,” noting, “It is much busier than it has ever been. We have to invest in the line in terms of schedule and capacity.”

Cllr Marie Casserley was in agreement when she remarked, "It needs serious investment,” adding, “I welcome the announcement of the double tracking of the line between Maynooth and Mullingar.”

Cllr Higgins, who has been campaigning in recent months for additional services on the Sligo-Dublin line commented, “Students at ATU are telling me they can’t use the current service because the times don’t suit them.

Cllr Thomas Healy also offered his support for the motion as he highlighted the “Importance of a regular service from Longford to Sligo.”

Cllr Fergal Nealon was also in agreement as he called for a late train out of Sligo. "It is the poor relation of the Cork line, you can’t even get a cup of tea.” Speaking about the need for an evening game Cllr Nealon said, “People can go to a Rovers game, go to the theatre, have a drink, enjoy the festivities and go home.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.