Galway County Council has slammed the decision to make the railway alignment from Bellaghy to Collooney, which is part of the Western rail Corridor, available for a greenway describing it as ‘deplorable’.
At its monthly meeting in Áras an Chontae, on Monday a motion tabled by Cllr Peter Feeney of Fine Gael was unanimously supported by all councillors present.
The motion acknowledged the success of Phase 1 of the Western Rail Corridor between Galway and Limerick, including the construction and extension of the Oranmore station, welcomed the decision to reopen the line from Athenry to Claremorris and the plans to extend platform lengths of the stations on Phase 1,
He also called for the reversal of what it termed ‘the deplorable decision to make the railway alignment from Bellaghy to Colooney available for a greenway, thus depriving Sligo and the North-West of a vital, sustainable transport link to the rest of the West and South.’
The motion will now be sent by Galway County Council to the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Junior Transport Minister Seán Canney and Iarnród Éireann. It follows a similar motion passed unanimously at Mayo County Council two weeks ago.
Speaking afterwards Cllr Feeney, who is based in Athenry, said that the campaign to reopen the Western Rail Corridor had been a long and often difficult road but was succeeding because it was deeply rooted and supported in communities across the west.
Referring to the campaign to protect the railway to Sligo for future rail use Cllr Feeney added, ‘There is no logical or economic rationale to deprive Sligo and the North-West of a vital, sustainable transport link to the rest of the West and South. This will be resisted strongly not just in Sligo but across the region.’
