The upgrading and reopening of just 15 miles of rail track could provide much-needed relief for the congested roads in and around Galway city, local representatives in the nearby town of Tuam believe.
Congestion is a serious problem in the city, and its traffic management system will be tested this week with the arrival of thousands of visitors for the Galway Races.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tuam believes significant "breathing space" could be achieved on major link roads in the area by reopening the rail service between Tuam and Galway, via Athenry.
This could take up to 1,000 daily car commuters off the approach roads to Galway, relieving pressure on parking spaces in the city, as well as benefiting Tuam, the chamber president, Mr Paul O'Grady, said.
Tuam's old railway station, a spacious and elegant building with an ornate, cast-iron footbridge, is still intact, although it was closed for passenger services in the 1970s.
However, the railway line through Tuam and onwards to Claremorris and Westport still operates for trains bringing pilgrims to and from Knock Shrine and for special freight trains carrying chemical raw materials for the Asahi plant in Killala, Co Mayo.
A goods link line was maintained into the Sugar Company plant at Tuam, but this closed in 1987. In the early 1990s, Tuam's chamber successfully resisted the removal of the line.
"I was president of the chamber at the time and, from bitter experience, I have always felt that what we have we should try and hold on to," said Mr O'Grady.
"It was very obvious to me that it did have a long-term use. Even if it was not going to be needed for passengers, it was certainly needed for goods."
As Tuam began the long and ultimately successful battle to recover from the Sugar Company closure, the town and its environs grew as workers from Galway's expanding industrial base sought housing there.
The population is now about 8,500, and the town's development plan estimates this will grow to about 12,500 by 2004.
Its hinterland is home to hundreds of Galway commuters. Mr O'Grady said: "People come here on the sole basis of being able to reach Galway quickly.
"Our key has always been our proximity to Galway, and we'd be quite happy to live as a satellite town to Galway.
"The best road in the country, other than motorways, was the Tuam-Galway road, before it became clogged. The growth of Claregalway village has slowed the route down, and the huge number of new cars on the road has really stretched it to its limit."
He believes the cost of upgrading the track between Tuam and Athenry, to join the main Dublin-Galway line, would be low.
"Everything else is in place. Tuam station, close to the centre of the town, is a lovely station architecturally. The sidings are there and a number of stone sheds, and there is ready-made car-parking."
Mr O'Grady claims the sociologist, Father Micheal Mac Greil, in a report some years ago, called for a return to the railways.
"Our campaign to re-establish the rail link is fully in accord with that. Knock Shrine is behind us as well. The clergy are fully supportive," he said.
A steam railway preservation group, Westrail Ltd, is working to restore sanitary facilities and open a coffee shop and restaurant, with an exhibition area, at Tuam station.
Tuam was chosen as the metropolitan see of Connacht in the 12th century, and at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion it was well on the way to becoming the capital of Connacht.
Thereafter its importance was primarily ecclesiastical, but it is now growing, with replacement industries filling the gap left by the Sugar Company.
It has gained urban renewal status. "We're just starting into major urban renewal and there is good vibrancy to the town," said Mr O'Grady.
"We are also very keen to develop Tuam Stadium, and the reopening of the station, which is close by, would facilitate that."
Meanwhile, Galway's traffic chaos increases almost by the day, and is a regular subject of phone-ins to the local radio station.
One Dublin visitor asserted that the problem was worse than that of the capital.
"At least in Dublin the traffic moves," he said.
Iarnrod Eireann has said there are no plans to reopen the Tuam line for passenger service as the reconstruction and replacement costs could not be justified commercially. However, the company was not closed to ideas "if circumstances change".