Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív yesterday reiterated the Government's commitment to re-open the disused railway line between Sligo and Limerick, but failed to give any specific timetable as to when the project would be completed.
There was a palpable feeling of disappointment at a conference in Claremorris, jointly organised by the West on Track organisation and the Western Development Commission, that Mr Ó Cuív could not provide a definitive timetable for the phased re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor.
The timetable for the re-opening of the line, as outlined by Maurice Treacy, principal officer of the Department of Transport at yesterday's conference, is: Ennis to Athenry by 2008, Athenry to Tuam by 2011 and Tuam to Claremorris by 2014.
The northern section of the line, between Claremorris and Collooney, which closed to passenger traffic in June 1963, is being preserved at the moment. No timescale has been set for the re-opening of this stretch of track. Yesterday, Mr Ó Cuív agreed that the Government had given "modest timescales" for the re-opening of the first phase to Claremorris.
He said: "However, we have learnt from the past that it is much better to give a modest timescale that allows for contingencies and deliver in time rather than to over-promise."
While welcoming the fact that Mr Ó Cuív had reiterated the Government's commitment to fully re-open the line, Colman Ó Raghallaigh of the West on Track Group was critical of the timescale.
He said: "The 36-mile Ennis to Athenry stretch will re-open next year. Why will it take so long to complete the 34-mile stretch between Athenry and Claremorris?"
Re-opening the link as far as Claremorris would connect Castlebar, Westport and Ballina by rail with Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford, Mr Ó Raghallaigh stressed. He added that the need for a commuter rail link between Mayo and Galway city was highlighted by the results of a recent survey that showed that in the region of five million people a year travel through the village of Milltown on the N17.
"We were hoping for something a bit more concrete," Mr Ó Raghallaigh stated. "To be told to be patient is just not acceptable anymore."