Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > Irish Rail Customer Service Issues > Intercity and Regional > Galway - Limerick - Waterford - Rosslare
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 13-03-2018, 19:02   #1
Thomas Morelli
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 36
Default Will Ennis to Athenry inevitably be closed?

The new motorway in the same area as the Ennis to Athenry line is highly likely to cause the amount of journeys made on it to drop, but I am wondering if this drop in patronage will be significant or not.

This is because the new M18, combined with the M6, is longer than the old N18, so although you can drive much faster on the motorway than you can on the old road, the journey time from Gort to Galway by road isn't shortened by much.

Another reason why I'm wondering about this is that express buses which begin operating when motorways are built often make patronage on the parallel railway go down, but Bus Eireann and Citylink had been operating express buses for some time before this new motorway was opened.
This is one thing likely to cause a drop in railway patronage that has already happened here.

On the other hand, the fact that there is now a motorway going all the way from Limerick to Galway might make journeys by road seem better, and cause some people to stop travelling by train.

I am not an expert in this field, so does anyone know what to expect?
Thomas Morelli is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-03-2018, 12:05   #2
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

It won't be the first but if we do see closures it will be number 3 or 4 on the list
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-03-2018, 15:25   #3
Thomas Morelli
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 36
Default

Is the new motorway likely to make the patronage drop by more than, say, three people per train?
Thomas Morelli is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 14-03-2018, 17:07   #4
James Howard
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
James Howard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sligo Line
Posts: 1,115
Default

Is there a point to this line at all at this stage since it seems to stay closed for several months every winter. Granted it's not the section between Ennis and Athenry but it's hardly conducive towards building a solid customer base. Irish Rail don't even seem to be bothered about keeping the Bus transfers notice on their home page any more
James Howard is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 15-03-2018, 11:04   #5
Thomas J Stamp
Chairman/Publicity
 
Thomas J Stamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Home of Hurling
Posts: 2,708
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Howard View Post
Is there a point to this line at all at this stage
every general and local election.
__________________
We are the passengers
Thomas J Stamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 15-03-2018, 23:51   #6
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

The fact that Galway is such an unpleasant and congested city from a motorist's point of view should help keep the line open.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2018, 19:37   #7
Thomas Morelli
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 36
Default

Would it increase patronage on this line by a significant amount if a reasonably frequent bus service was ran on the galway bypass(The one that isn't built, if it gets a bus lane), serving oranmore train station, making it easier for people to get from all over galway to the train?

Last edited by Thomas Morelli : 08-05-2018 at 19:39.
Thomas Morelli is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:42.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.