Madam, – Why has it been so fashionable to dismiss the western rail corridor as a white elephant? I suspect it is not so much a bias against the West, as against anything on rails. Thirty years ago, a similar movement fought against the Dart. In more recent times, people have been vocal against the Luas, Metro North and the Navan line.
You never hear this kind of opposition to road projects on cost grounds. Why is Brendan Quinn (August 31st) so sure that road improvements in the Limerick-Galway area should not be re-examined? This presumption of extravagance when even the most modest rail project is mentioned is quite irrational, and rarely applied to any other aspect of public spending.
The recent success of many of our railways is due to improved frequency.
In 1973, CIÉ made a small step in that direction. But within two years, negative attitudes returned, and the western rail corridor was closed instead of getting an improved timetable. So it has always been a missed opportunity. There is no reason why the Limerick-Galway should not thrive as other lines have done. – Yours, etc,