Leonard demands publication of Killucan train station study

The delay in publishing the independent study on the viability of reopening Killucan train station has been criticised by Cllr Denis Leonard.

The study by Aecon, which was commissioned by Irish Rail and Westmeath County Council, was completed almost three months ago, the Labour part councillor says, and he wants to know why its finding haven’t been made public.

“I have asked Westmeath chief executive Barry Kehoe to pursue this on three occasions and he has received no reply either,” Cllr Leonard revealed in a statement this week.

“Surely when the independent consultant signs off on it nearly three months ago, the findings are the findings. They should not be redacted or interfered within any way for organisational or political ends.

“As chair of the Killucan Kinnegad Transport lobby group, I have fought for an independent study of this area for years. Irish Rail never accepted the study carried out by AIT now TUS in Athlone over six months in 2007 (funded by the council) which showed more than 200 people a day using the station.

“Irish Rail’s own short study in 2013 did not use the full demographics of the area. Now that we have an independent body carrying out a study commissioned by Irish Rail and the council and funded by Department of Transport, they won’t release the results.

“In an email, Ministers Ryan’s office referred me back to Irish Rail, who claimed they gave it to the Department of Transport at the beginning of March.

“This is not good enough with so many people in our east Westmeath region crying out for a viable alternative to the one- to two-hour commute up the M4, depending on the daily traffic situation.”