Rail Users Ireland Forum - View Single Post - Burma Road = World's Biggest Roller Coaster?

dowlingm · 19-01-2007, 16:59

As a matter of interest - has the track clearance uncovered any of the WRC encroachments photographed by P11 members previously? What has the reaction been?

ACustomer

I disagree - clearing the WRC is not a waste of money. However, reopening it as a heavy rail line would be. I'm pretty comfortable with reopening all the way to Claremorris in time if the right case was made to be honest - I like the potential to run services south from Westport/Ballina. I remember interviewing for a job in Asahi way back when there was an Asahi and kinda worried that I might get it given the transport options ex Cork!

However, the Claremorris-Collooney alignment is not fit. The West's own McCann couldn't stomach it. That's not an argument to hand it over to any farmers who have encroached, but to develop it as a hiking/cycle trail or some other amenity. Maybe even run a bit of a heritage railway over some of it as in Waterford.

Clearing the alignment reinforces the State's ownership of the land and prepares it for productive use, just not a use that comes out of Irish Rail's subvention.

19-01-2007, 16:59	#31
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	As a matter of interest - has the track clearance uncovered any of the WRC encroachments photographed by P11 members previously? What has the reaction been? ACustomer I disagree - clearing the WRC is not a waste of money. However, reopening it as a heavy rail line would be. I'm pretty comfortable with reopening all the way to Claremorris in time if the right case was made to be honest - I like the potential to run services south from Westport/Ballina. I remember interviewing for a job in Asahi way back when there was an Asahi and kinda worried that I might get it given the transport options ex Cork! However, the Claremorris-Collooney alignment is not fit. The West's own McCann couldn't stomach it. That's not an argument to hand it over to any farmers who have encroached, but to develop it as a hiking/cycle trail or some other amenity. Maybe even run a bit of a heritage railway over some of it as in Waterford. Clearing the alignment reinforces the State's ownership of the land and prepares it for productive use, just not a use that comes out of Irish Rail's subvention.