Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister and wish him the best of luck in the enormous task he has in dealing not only with rail transport but with transport generally. Senator Higgins mentioned the Westport and Ballina lines to Dublin. Great efforts were made over recent years to install the welded rail line and it is, at last, in place on this route. The installation of the welded rail, however, does not make a great difference in the time it takes the train to travel the Westport to Dublin route because the antiquated signalling system means the train must still travel at a certain speed. Travelling at full speed is too fast for the signalling system to work because the signals cannot be completed in time. The Minister must ensure a new signalling system is put in place on the route.

Every day at least one train on the Westport-Castlebar-Dublin line comprises old fashioned railway carriages. The train is dilapidated and out of date. It has no dining car, light or heat. This train has been put on the line each day over the last six months. Mayo is in the BMW region, an Objective One region which was so designated to bring the region up to the same level of development as the rest of the country. The rail service on that route is inadequate. The Minister should look the dilapidated train used at least once each day on the route. It is not good enough. CIE and others are encouraging people to use the railway system. How can one encourage them to do so when a train of this standard is provided?

Senator Ulick Burke said the link from Sligo to Limerick has been broken on the northern side of Athenry. I travelled on the last passenger train from Claremorris to Limerick a number of years ago. Ever since that line was closed the local authorities along the route have fought a campaign to get it reopened. I was shocked to hear Senator Burke say the northern link has been broken. It was broken prior to the release of the report which the Minister is due to receive in a couple of weeks. Senator Higgins made a great case for the establishment of a Sligo-Galway route. It would remove an amazing number of cars from the roads and would facilitate students in Sligo, Claremorris, Tuam, Athenry and Galway. Will the Minister clarify the position at Athenry?

The Minister should also investigate the bureaucracy between local authorities and CIE in relation to level crossings, water and road bridges and the various junctions in local authority areas. It is a nightmare and takes years to achieve any commitment or solution to the problems that occur at level crossings with traffic, dangers and so forth. I cannot understand it. I am a member of a local authority and sometimes I have to bring to its attention a level crossing which is causing danger or where an accident or near miss has occurred, especially where the new welded rail has been installed. In many cases the bridges were raised following negotiations between CIE and the local authorities.