Renewed calls have been issued for the installation of a rail link to Shannon Airport.

Officials in the National Transport Authority (NTA) have previously detailed that the provision of a rail link to the International Airport is a key objective of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS).

Plans associated with the LSMATS are estimated to cost €1.4bn while CEO of Irish Rail, Jim Meade has said the rail spur to Shannon would have a bill of hundreds of millions of euros.

A report published in October 2003 by the Shannon Railway Company detailed that a €60m commuter rail link between Shannon, Limerick and Ennis was “a viable commercial entity” through a public-private partnership. The now liquidated Beaux Walk Properties said it was prepared to invest €16m in the project.

Discussions on the rail link were reignited at this month’s meeting of Clare County Council with Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) urging the Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications Eamon Ryan (GP) “to put a plan in place to provide a rail link to Shannon Airport as our County Development Plan has identified two routes and certainty is required for the adjoining landowners and the travelling public”.

Securing a rail link would be ‘the making’ of Shannon Airport, the county’s first citizen maintained as he stressed the need to include Bunratty. He felt Minister Ryan would be “an open book” on the subject and suggested Greenway funding could be tapped into to make the link become a reality. “There is a golden opportunity here and maybe we should grasp it with our two hands to try move it on”.

Two pathways for the rail link have been included in three separate County Development Plans, the Cratloe man said as he sought clarity for the landowners. Director of Service, Liam Conneally said he was keen to see the rail link remain in the next Development Plan.

Criticism of the LSMATS was voiced by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) as he seconded the proposal. He felt the rail link was ignored in the strategy, “it is shocking to see all the investment primarily south of Shannon”.

Shannon would be opened to the entire West of Ireland if the spur was in existence, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) felt. “The traffic into Shannon would be huge and also for a large town like Ennis, it would be very big for our hotels,” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) commented.

Related News

rob o'brien tim daly 1
Blocked toilets & growing levels of rubbish in Clare schools without caretakers
joe vaughan 1
Moy's Joe Vaughan remembered as a legend who championed the underdog
deirdre madden barbara kears maureen kelly yvonne enright 1
School secretaries will stay on strike as long as Government ignore them - Scariff's Maureen
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
Closing hours extended in Lisdoonvarna for match-making festival
Latest News
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
Closing hours extended in Lisdoonvarna for match-making festival
Supermacs-Plaza
New legal challenge against €10m Supermac's Plaza makes 'mockery of planning system'
conor mckenna 1
'Secretaries have been papering over the cracks from Dept under-funding' - Inch principal issues support to workers on strike
mobile banking 1
Phishing scam under investigation in Ennis
sixmilebridge v whitegate 28-08-22 16 conor whelan
Strong finish helps Whitegate edge Bodyke in thriller
Premium
Strong finish helps Whitegate edge Bodyke in thriller
'We don't want freebies, we want what we're entitled to' - school secretaries & caretakers seek pension parity
'We won't be afraid of anyone' - excitement building in Ennistymon for Clare SFC quarter-finals
Coolmeen claim last Clare IFC quarter-final spot with dramatic finish
'Hard-fought wins' for Cratloe has paved way to quarter-finals

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.