This article is from page 4 of the 2006-09-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A CLARE County Councillor has called for the inclusion of a railway station in Crusheen when the Government reopens the Western Rail Corridor.
Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney says, “There has been considerable development in Crusheen over the last number of years and further potential of the village could be realised in a sustainable manner, if a train stop is included in the rail improvement works.
“Latest Census figures show that Crusheen has had one of the largest increases in population in the county since the 2002 Census, with a massive 37.5 per cent increase in population.
“The 37.5 percent increase is on top of the increase in population in Crusheen since 1997.
“I believe the predicted usage of the Western Rail Corridor has been underestimated. A train stop in Crusheen would benefit all of the north east and north west of Clare and, with the development of a park and ride facility, this would reduce the pressure on the train station in Ennis,” Councillor Meaney said.
“Despite much media coverage and Government spin announcing funding for the upgrading of the train line, the decision to actually proceed is still pending.
“There have been positive announcements but, with the ongoing delay in starting the work, these are meaningless.
“The setting of false expectations such as these is part of the distrust in other promises made by this Government,” he added.
“It appears to me that the delay in announcing the start of the work on the rail line north of Ennis is being caused by political opportunism, again compromising delivery on infrastructure in the west,” Councillor Meaney said.
Councillor Meaney believes that opening up rail stops along the line from Limerick to Claremorris and Sligo will be key to full usage of the railway and will in time greatly meet Ireland’s obligation under the Kyoto Protocol.