Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We might call it a rail map rather than a roadmap but, yes, absolutely. We need to do a whole variety of things in Limerick to use and add to the existing rail infrastructure. The first is the Colbert Station development and the likes of a new station at Moyross, which has real potential as it is within walking distance of Thomond Park and Limerick Institute of Technology, LIT, and it is on an existing line where services are already running. We also need to look at the reopening of new stations. We mentioned earlier the twin-tracking from Limerick Junction to Colbert Station, which would also give potential new stations. The reopening of the Foynes line for freight and commuter services and the electrification of the whole network are other projects. From my perspective, one of the advantages coming from the new battery-electric trains is that they can cover the sort of distances needed for a Limerick regional metropolitan rail that might run from Nenagh as far as Foynes, which it could in the long run although it will take time, or even in the direction of Shannon. That is the potential. In the long run, it gives us a very efficient, low-carbon commuter and inter-urban rail system. It will take time.

The Shannon line is the more difficult because it will be a new rail line, if we run it all the way to Shannon. Perhaps it could start initially with a connecting bus service from Cratloe or Sixmilebridge, which would be the obvious options. When this was looked at originally in 1999, my understanding is there would be capacity issues on the Ennis line if it ran two ways. If I correctly recall, consideration was even given to a circular route, which would come back into the city on a new line. Once we start building new lines, it is very expensive. That is why the first priority is to develop existing lines and stations.

I keep coming back to the fact that Limerick has a decision to make. Do its residents want to go for the sustainable option, using existing rail infrastructure and developing around that, or do they want to go into County Clare, in effect, and become a Clare and Limerick city? I think it should be the former. That is where real potential investment and very good quality development lies because the lines are there and are underutilised.