The Western Rail Corridor is a shovel-ready project which must be delivered within the lifetime of this Government.

That’s what Galway East Deputy Louis O’Hara told the Dáil last week during statements on the All Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations – as he also called for double-tracking of the Athenry-Galway rail line to be made a priority.

“When you look at a map of Ireland’s current rail network versus the network 100 years ago the differences are striking, in particular the absence of infrastructure in the West, North West and Border Counties,” he said.

“The reality is that we’ve gone backwards in recent decades. Plans are one thing but we need implementation, to progress new projects in a timely manner, and to address the imbalance in regional infrastructure.

“The Western Rail Corridor is critical to our region. It has been talked about and put on the long finger for years at this stage. If you are serious about regional development this project has to be progressed and you have to get a move on – this project is shovel-ready and can be delivered in the lifetime of this Government. We can’t be here in five years’ time having the same debate,” he added.

The Western Rail Corridor was also in focus at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Conference attended by more than 600 delegates at the Waterfront Hall Belfast, where a motion by Castlebar Trades Council – calling for its go-ahead – was unanimously agreed.

Donna Hyland, Secretary of the Castlebar Trades Council, said she was delighted with the support our motion on the Western Rail Corridor received at conference.

“This was the first time that ICTU had formally adopted a motion in relation to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor,” she said.

“After delegates had passed the motion, the General Secretary of SIPTU Joe Cunningham credited Castlebar Trades Council and the speakers from the various unions for one of the ‘most interesting contributions’ of the day.

“The Western Rail Corridor will not only be an amenity for West of Ireland tourism, but it will be a key economic driver of our region. The social, environmental and economic value that the railway will bring will create stability for our region into the future.

Galway journalist and broadcaster Bernie Ní Fhlatharta of the National Union of Journalists, speaking on the motion, said ‘this was not an issue about a novelty train but a vital piece of infrastructure that would connect no less than five counties in the West of Ireland’.

“Public transport is a necessary option if the Government expected people to reduce usage of private cars,” she said.

Meanwhile, Louis O’Hara also told the Dáil that double-tracking of Athenry-Galway was equally critical.

“Athenry is the crossroads for the Ennis and future Claremorris sections of the Western Rail Corridor and the Dublin-Galway line. Double-tracking is needed to ensure that we have a proper commuter service between Galway City and County and to cities across the country,” he said.

“The passing loop at Oranmore and the re-development of Ceannt Station are welcome, as is the capacity study on the Galway-Dublin line announced in recent days. But similar to the Western Rail Corridor the current issues and benefits of implementing improvements are well known, reports are one thing but delivery is another and that is where Government has always been lacking.

“Commuters are sick and tired of overcrowded services, delays and restrictions because of the single track, or a total absence of infrastructure as is the case in north Galway and parts of Mayo.

“We need ambition, we need to future-proof our infrastructure and crucially get projects delivered,” he added.

Pictured: Not so much a boogie train as a traintrack buggy – spotted at the former Tuam Railway Station at the weekend. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.