Submission On National All-Ireland Rail Review places Greenway Groups As stakeholders

by | Apr 5, 2022 | Department of Transport, Press Releases

Joint committee on transport and communications submission on the national rail review.

Submission on national All-Ireland Rail Review places Greenway Groups as stakeholders in closed railway from Athenry to Collooney

East Mayo Greenway Group Welcomes Transport committee opening door for Greenways on closed railways in submission on All Ireland Rail Review

  • Submission on national All-Ireland Rail Review places Greenway Groups as stakeholders in closed railway from Athenry to Collooney
  • East Mayo Greenway welcomes statement from Transport Committee that both options (Rail and Greenway) can be “considered separately or in parallel”
  • Greenway group asks Rail Review to confirm a greenway is possible on closed railway until such time as railway might be possible.
  • Huge opportunity for tourism along Atlantic Economic Corridor

The East Mayo Greenway Group (EMG) has welcomed a submission made by the Oireachtas Transport Committee on the Strategic Rail Review being undertaken by ARUP consultants.

Houses of the Oireachtas logo

At a meeting of the Transport Committee on 17th February 2022 John Mulligan, from the Western Rail Trail Campaign which represents the Quiet Man Greenway, the East Mayo Greenway and the Sligo Greenway Co-Op presented the views of the three campaign groups seeking to transform tourism economics along the Atlantic Economic Corridor with the creation of a greenway on the closed railway from Athenry to Collooney until such time as a railway might be possible.

“It was so important that the greenway campaign was recognised as a stakeholder in the closed railway and was invited to present our views” spokesperson Michael Maye continued, “The East Mayo Greenway Campaign is focussed on achieving a greenway on the closed railway from Charlestown to Claremorris that will provide the perfect connection for the Sligo Greenway which Sligo county council are in the advanced stages of planning on the closed railway from Collooney to Charlestown”

The Transport Committee released its submission to the All Island Rail Review on March 29th the EMG spokesperson stated “The recommendation to the Rail Review from the Transport Committee clearly recognises that using closed railway routes as greenways until such time as a railway might be possible is now firmly on the agenda.”

The spokesperson added: “It was what the Transport Committee said about greenways on closed railways that really struck a chord with the Campaign group.” The Transport committee states this in the submission to the All Island Rail Review:

“The committee supports both the establishment of greenways and the recommissioning of disused rail lines once again as active rail lines. The Committee believes that this does not have to be a binary choice. Both options can and should be considered separately or in parallel, including constructing new greenways alongside existing rail lines.”

It is what we have always said, continued Michael Maye of the EMG: “It is not a matter of either a greenway or a railway. The two options are not mutually exclusive and both options can be considered, it is just that one may happen before the other. It will be a long time before any railway is likely to re-open on the closed railway line north of Claremorris to Charlestown, so a greenay to connect with the Sligo Greenway which will terminate at Charlestown just makes for simple common sense. We should utilise the closed railway route now as a greenway to protect the route in public ownership and potentially have both a greenway and railway in the long term future. The submission from the Transport Committee clearly states both options greenway and railway should be considered “separately or in parallel”

Mr Maye concluded The Transport Committee submission to the All Island Rail Review is in line with the submissions Mayo County council received on the new county plan from the owners of the closed railway, Irish Rail and the Department of Transport which would fund a greenway. Irish Rail and The Department of Transport agree with the view of the East Mayo Greenway group and have asked Mayo county council to consider a greenway on the closed railway route from Charlestown to Claremorris as part of a new transport corridor.

Maye concluded “We now need Mayo county council to come on board with the idea of a greenway on the closed railway north of Claremorris to Charlestown, it is what the people of East Mayo are screaming out for and it just makes common sense. The county plan needs to recognise this new reality”.

Link to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications submission to the National Rail Review here.