Mr. Richard Logue:

I agree with the Deputy. If the Limerick line was managed in a better way, there would be potential for a shorter direct route between Dublin and Limerick. A continuously welded rail line in that area would mean the potential for running trains at a significantly higher speed. The major blockers on that line are primarily things such as the multiple accommodation crossings and the multiple manual level crossings. If one is looking at developing, Nenagh, for instance, is suitable for major development. From an intercity point of view, it would provide for a shorter direct journey between Dublin and Limerick but a curve would have to be built at Ballybrophy to accommodate direct trains. No such curve exists at the moment.