Labour wants to turn Limerick into rail hub
LIMERICK'S potential as a rail hub is an opportunity to improve the city's economic competitiveness and it should not be missed, according to the Labour Party.
Plans should be in place to develop and expand the existing rail network for when the economy strengthens, and Deputy Jan O'Sullivan called on local authorities in the Mid-West to ensure rail formed part of their city and county development plans.
She outlined her vision of how Limerick could become a commuter rail city highlighting the "extensive rail network located across the city and county" that could be used to develop a comprehensive commuter system served by trains or new tram trains.
Labour's vision include the development of a rail service linking Shannon Airport to the existing Limerick / Ennis line; constructing automated park and ride stations at Patrickswell, Sixmilebridge, Limerick Junction and Annacotty and upgrading Colbert Station.
"Limerick should be at the centre of whatever comes from Government in relation to rail, and you can be sure that the other cities are fighting their corner," Deputy O'Sullivan told a press conference after her presentation.
She was supported by Cllr Joe Leddin, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin and Cllr Tomas Hannon.
"Galway, which does not have the same rail infrastructure that we have here in the Mid-West, has made considerable progress in relation to planning a commuter rail network in Galway," Cllr Leddin said.
Deputy O'Sullivan said if the Government was planning on introducing a carbon tax, then people who lived in rural towns and villages should be given more options and public transport by rail should be the priority.
"Now is the time to ensure that plans are in place for the future," she said.
Labour wants the proposal by the Shannon Rail Link Partnership to connect Shannon Airport to the Limerick / Ennis line to be re-examined.
The cost of constructing the necessary infrastructure has been examined in two studies, which returned with two different costs of €200m and €700m. It is something that we should be fighting for, because any modern airport, and God knows Shannon needs all the help it can get, should have a rail link and we need that at least maintained as a proposition,” she said.
Separately, she said new modern tram trains, which can operate on rail lines and on street tracks, offer huge opportunities for the city.
With the city and county councils currently preparing their six-year development plans the Labour TD urged councillors to protect existing rail lines and not allow them to be dismantled.
“We can see the benefits already for people living in areas such as Birdhill and Castleconnell who now have the option to travel to Limerick by rail as opposed to road,” she said.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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