Lack of trains and lack of catering on trains.

[jim]

Political will.

Thats what it boils down to. The lack of which is why the NW is so badly served.

The arguement re population doesnt hold when you consider some urban areas, it would pass through, have a population similar to other parts of country.

The cost argument doesnt hold when you consider there must be other train routes across the country that operate at a loss.

Yes, it would cost a lot of money to implement and would be probably loss-making but so what. Why shouldnt the people of the NW have infrastructure similar to those of the SW or the SE or the West. Why not? They are equal citizens with equal needs.

The A5 recently took a knock, and its well documented how treacherous it is.

The NW is simply under served and that is not fair or equitible and should be addresed. And yet, those with access to trains and motorways continue to moan that they want catering and they want routes extended and they want more and more.

 

[faketales]

You can close a route - but you can also ensure you still maintain control of the land involved in case you ever change your mind - they didn't even do that or least not in any way that it would ever be feasible to reopen a line.

Where did the land go? Farmers?

The state has the lowest of one of the lowest percentages of land in its control in Europe. The majority of which is controlled for business purposes by Coilte.

It seems a cultural thing going back to the Land Act to not protect state land.

 

[T McGibney]

Where did the land go? Farmers?

They offered it in strips to local farmers, free of charge. I have it on good if anecdotal authority that many farmers refused to assume ownership of the strips offered to them, for fear of assuming liability for accidents on the property and also for the upkeep of bridges, shores etc.

 

[faketales]

Why not put it to private tender?

Did they not do that? And the responses dictated it would only work on the cork Dublin and Dublin Belfast routes.

I imagine the busiest of the long routes.

(I suspect Kerry people are too cute to pay some of the prices they charge…)