*Photograph: John Mangan
MORE FREQUENT TRAIN SERVICES on the Ennis line and a rail spur to Shannon Airport are among the aspects taking prominence in the revised draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS).
Published on Tuesday by the National Transport Authority, the revised LSMATS has included new proposals for investment in rail including increased train services on the Ennis line, additional stations at Moyross, dual tracking of the line from Limerick Junction to Colbert and an upgrade of Colbert Station.
In addition, a detailed Study to determine future investment in rail infrastructure and commuter services in the Limerick area is to be undertaken. The proposed study will assess future development in the region, evaluate future demand based on projected increases in population and economic activity and outline medium to long term options for investment in rail.
Options around investment in improving existing infrastructure and investment in new infrastructure will be examined in detail, including a future rail line to Shannon Airport, the re-use of the Foynes and Mungret lines plus future stations at appropriate locations integrated with high-density Transit-Oriented Development.
This is the second round of public consultation for LSMATS. The Strategy first went out to public consultation when it published by the NTA in 2020. The overall objective of the Strategy is to provide a radically improved bus network, major investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, all supported by investment in rail and road where they contribute to the overall sustainable transport objectives.
Feedback on the first draft in late 2020 has influenced the revised draft along with changes to Government policy in the intervening period. Other changes put in place are rebalancing of investment priorities to favour sustainable transport, additional cycling routes crossing the River Shannon in South Clare, Shannon and Limerick City, a new vision for transport in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area, new rail proposals and specific transport measures to support Limerick Regeneration.
The NTA intends to finalise the LSMATS and commence its implementation in 2022 once the current period of consultation expires on June 10th 2022. The preparation of the Shannon Local Transport Plan to be led by Clare County Council and the development of an investment programme for rail in association with Iarnród Éireann are aspects of the implementation plan.
In recent weeks, the matter of a rail spur was highlighted by Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) in a parliamentary question to Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP). “Among the issues raised during the public consultation were issues related to the role of rail in the region, including potential connectivity to Shannon Airport, and that role is under further examination by the NTA for inclusion in a revised draft Strategy,” Minister Ryan outlined in his response.
