Seanad debates

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Commencement Matters

Railway Stations

10:30 am

Photo of Martin ConwayMartin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted that a former Senator and colleague has been appointed Minister and shall take this important Commencement item. I commend him on the work he has done in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Crusheen railway station is located on the western rail corridor. The number of people using the western rail corridor, specifically from Ennis to Galway, has grown in recent years. In 2015, 102,000 passengers travelled the route from Ennis to Galway. It is the highest number of passengers so far since the line was opened a number of years ago. Given the fact that parts of the line have been flooded, particularly from Limerick to Ennis, the number of passengers is quite impressive.

I request the Minister to outline when he plans to commence work on opening a railway station at Crusheen. There is an old railway station in Crusheen. There is a growing population in the area from Crusheen to Ruan and in the surrounding northern and eastern districts of Ennis that would definitely use a railway station at Crusheen.Many stations of this type are now automatic, as a result of advances in technology, so no human resources would be necessary. The more stations that are opened along any of our rail lines - and specifically this line - the more people will use those lines for leisure and to commute to and from work. I hope the Minister might have some good news for the people of Crusheen and the surrounding areas who are hopeful of having a railway station at some stage in the near future.

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