Sir, – For the first time, an Irish Minister has had the courage to make a definitive statement on the western rail corridor. Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar told Frank McDonald (Home News, December 17th)that it is “not even going to be extended to Tuam”.
Now that the Government position has finally become clear, maybe politicians in Connacht will find the courage to tell the pro-rail lobbyists the trains aren’t coming any time soon? Political pandering to the pro-rail contingent had prevented the route being used for regional development as a tourism and leisure corridor and as a route for high-speed broadband infrastructure, all of which would bring hundreds of jobs to the north west.
In addition, a greenway-type trail on the old trackbed would preserve the route for future generations in case a rail project ever becomes viable. The alternative, allowing the route to be lost piecemeal to public ownership by adverse possession, is not good governance.
Now that Mr Varadkar has “told it like it is”, hopefully Minister Ring and an Taoiseach will find it easier to do the same, and we can all move on with making this asset work for the people of Ireland. – Yours, etc,