There are no plans to alter commitments in Transport 21 to extend the western rail corridor service to Sligo, according to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey. Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent, reports.
Mr Dempsey said he would love to speed up all planned public transport projects given the increase in the number of people driving to work.
He and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, yesterday marked new track-laying on the Ennis-Athenry section of the western rail corridor at Craughwell, Co Galway.
The rail corridor is still on target for opening between Limerick and Claremorris, Co Mayo, in 2014, with a service between Limerick and Galway due to start in spring 2009, according to CIÉ.
Census figures published this week show a 2 per cent rise in five years in the numbers of people driving a car to and from work - up from 55 per cent in 2002 to 57 per cent.
Mr Dempsey said one of the difficulties encountered in Transport 21 commitments had been the "slow start-up".
"We haven't been used to doing major projects like these ones, but I think over the next couple of years we'll be able to accelerate the progress."
The €106.5 million redevelopment of the western rail corridor, billed by the Government as the largest infrastructural project of its type under Transport 21, will involve several new stations in Clare and south Galway.
It will involve renewal of 36 miles of track, along with installation of points, crossings and other repair and improvement work.
Reopening of commuter services on the route and initiation of new stations at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell and Oranmore "demonstrates the continued growth and development of the Limerick and Galway gateways", Mr Dempsey said.
The last train between Limerick and Galway ran 31 years ago. Galway West TD Frank Fahey, who attended yesterday's event at Craughwell, recalled how he was a "young councillor from Gort" when he witnessed that piece of history in April 1976.
Fr Micheál Mac Greil, patron of the West-on-Track campaign, was also present in Craughwell yesterday to welcome "relaying work on phase one" of the corridor between Ennis and Athenry.
"Iarnród Éireann is to be warmly congratulated for the professional and speedy manner in which it is progressing the project," his campaign said in a statement.