Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced today that site clearance works on the unused railway line between Claremorris and Collooney will begin on the 18th September. The work will be carried out by Iarnród Éireann over the next year.
Minister Ó Cuív has made a funding provision of €5m under the CLÁR programme to carry out the works. CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais/Programme for Revitalising Rural Areas) is an investment programme designed to tackle the problem of population decline and lack of services in rural areas.
“The people of rural Ireland have a right to expect top class, 21st century infrastructure. The Western Rail Corridor, due to the heroic efforts of the Inter-County Rail Committee, spearheaded by Father Mícheál Mac Gréil and in more recent times, by the West on Track group, have ensured that this vital piece of infrastructure was not abandoned and sold down through the years. The preservation of the right of way is a vital component to facilitate a future opening of the Western Rail Corridor north of Claremorris. The announcement by the Government of the phased re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor is the largest ever re-opening of a rail line in this island and is a clear indication of a firm commitment to action in relation to Western Development.”
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
The railway line between Claremorris and Collooney has been closed to passenger rail traffic since June 1963 with the Athenry to Claremorris section closed to passenger rail traffic since April 1976. Limited freight services operated on the line until the early 1990’s.
The purpose of the works announced today is to re-establish the boundaries, prevent further deterioration of the line section and prevent any development that may otherwise impinge on the proposed detailed works required for the reopening of the line. Specifically, the works include fencing, hedge cutting, renewal of level crossing gates as well as the provision of some essential drainage, removal of ivy and overgrowth from bridges and the provision of mile posts.