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Irish Rail

Further delays to construction of Western Rail Corridor

Irish Rail is currently in talks with a developer about funds it agreed to pay towards the construction of the line.

THE WESTERN Rail Corridor project has seen a further delay as Irish Rail consults with a developer over funding.

A spokesperson from Irish Rail told TheJournal.ie that the plans were stalled because of ongoing talks with a developer who had agreed to pay funds towards the construction of Crusheen rail station.

This station is part of the Western Rail Corridor, which would link Tuam to Claremorris.

There are ongoing consultations between ourselves and the developer because the developer had given a commitment to give a contribution towards the cost of construction and this hasn’t been forthcoming. We are in ongoing discussions.

The funding for the station will also come from Irish Rail through the Exchequer, and Clare County Council.

The Western Rail Corridor is a mostly disused railway line that runs through the West of Ireland, and in 2006 it was announced that work to re-open it would begin.

The reopening was included in Transport 21 and the 2007 – 2013 National Development Plan.

However, in 2009 Bord Snip Nua recommended that there should be no further development of the corridor.

Yesterday, a group called West on Track mooted the idea of opening the Galway – Limerick section of the Western Rail Corridor to other operators.

The group also called on Transport Minister Leo Varadkar “to examine the operation of the new railway over the past two years with a veiw to guaranteeing standard intercity services to rail users in the Galway-Limerick-Cork corridor and ensuring maximum value for money to the taxpayer”.

Read: NTA to decide on future of Waterford-Rosslare rail line>

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