New Killucan station feasibility study must begin 'immediately' - Leonard

The new feasibility study for the reopening of Killucan Station has to begin immediately, a local councillor has said.

Last week, Cllr Denis Leonard, who has campaigned for the station's reopening for the past two decades, received an email from the Department of Transport informing him that Minister Eamon Ryan has allocated funding for a new feasibility study.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Cllr Leonard welcomed the news but said that the email “answered some questions, but posed a few more”.

“My two questions to the minister are simply: can he ask Irish Rail to begin this study immediately and can he also make sure that the remit of the study is wide enough to capture the 55,000 people it effects; many Dublin commuters who live less than nine miles from the station with no rail alternative other than a choked M4 motorway and up a two hour commute.

“The Minister also notes that once this review is complete that Westmeath County Council must work with Irish Rail to prepare a final business case for the Department of Public Expenditure. I feel our council should put the process in place now to be ready for this to roll-out once the study is complete. If 40 per cent of emissions are coming from transport, and the national investment strategy is two to one for public transport over roads how can Killucan Station not be opened?”

Cllr Leonard was also informed that the 41 new rail cars that Irish Rail has already taken delivery of will be introduced into the fleet next year. He says that given the overcrowding problems on the Sligo-Dublin line, the new rail cars need to be introduced as soon as possible.

“Why has is to be next year when they are deployed when Irish Rail promised extra carriages to the Dublin-Sligo line in 2022. One of the reasons Killucan did not open - even though the train stops there anyway numerous times a day with parking for 100 cars beside it - is that the morning train is already full by the time it reaches Mullingar.

“The Dublin-Sligo line has had historically the worst of train carriages available to Irish Rail and now even though they are modern they are far too few to service such a busy commuter line. Those who have booked a seat cannot get one, elderly going to Dublin hospital appointments are standing, students going to the five universities directly on the the line cannot get on, and many are paying far too much to stand for hours on the train. This is before we talk about people having to cross the tracks in Mullingar station when the gate is left closed for embarking on the other side, and the fact that passengers are often not informed of delays to services.

“The Minister also confirmed that the All-Island Strategic Rail Review will look at the Mullingar to Athlone line. The line goes back to Irish Rail in 2030 and if plans are put in place for light rail there is no reason why it could not be running sooner, co-located with the cycle way as is the model in Europe. It would give Mullingar and surrounds direct access to the new Technological University in Athlone and Athlone residents access to Mullingar Hospital and employment opportunities in both towns.

“It would provide a real alternative to a not fit for purpose road network between the two spatial towns

“I have also requested a county wide audit of public transport options, through rail, bus, private bus, local link etc so that gaps can be identified. At that point I have asked that the NTA would visit us as they did in Meath recently to look at how all those gaps from services to shelters can be addressed. In Meath this week the three senior officials in each of the NTA, Irish Rail and Bus Eireann sat down with Meath councillors and senior council officials. Why can’t that happen in Westmeath?

“It would look like some important steps are being taken but follow up steps must be taken by the Minister’s office as a matter of urgency. The clock is ticking for the planet, for stressed commuters and for those of us who are demanding a fit for purpose local, accessible, affordable reliable, efficient public transport network,” Cllr Leonard concluded.