Plans for 'The Sligo Greenway' - a 35km public cycling trail along the disused western rail corridor in south Sligo have been shelved.
Sligo County Council said it was suspending any further works as the preferred route is no longer available and a suggested alternative option was not viable.
The local authority had identified the disused railway line between Collooney and Bellaghy belonging to Iarnród Éireann as its preferred route.
During a public consultation in December 2024, Iarnród Éireann informed Sligo County Council that it could not support the preferred route, but it indicated support for an alternative option, running parallel to the railway.
Sligo County Council has carried out a high-level review of the alternative option proposed by Iarnród Éireann.
This evening, the local authority said while it was "technically feasible" that the alternative option was not viable as it included additional constraints, costs, and risks.
It found that approximately 250 private land parcels would be impacted, with over 70% of the route requiring private land acquisition.
It found the alternative route had increased ecological impacts and it carried a higher risk of not securing planning approval.
It found it diverged from the principles of the Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways which prioritises the use of state-owned lands to minimise impacts on private property.
Preliminary conservative estimates indicated minimum increased costs of 22% higher compared to the route that would have been centred on the disused railway line.
Based on its review findings, Sligo County Council concluded that it was not a viable alternative to the preferred corridor that centred on the disused railway line.
The council said considering these factors and following consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that it was "suspending any further work on this project".
The council said it remains committed to the development of greenway infrastructure in County Sligo
It added should Iarnród Éireann "revert to their original decision to support the development of the Sligo Greenway centred on the disused railway line, Sligo County Council, in consultation with TII, will seek to resume the development of the project, subject to financial resources being available at that time".
Sligo County Council had planned, if they were given the go-ahead on the preferred route that the land would remain in Iarnród Éireann’s ownership, with the greenway constructed and operated under a license agreement.
They said this option suited both Iarnród Éireann and Sligo County Council, as it enabled the development of the greenway and that also protected the railway line in the event of the railway re-opening in the future.
Sligo County Council’s announcement to suspend any further works on the Sligo Greenway follows last week’s Government decision to reopen the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry, Co Galway to Claremorris, Co Mayo.
Construction on the Athenry to Claremorris rail corridor is expected to commence in 2028.
It is expected that the extension of the Western Rail Corridor northwards to Sligo will come into strong focus when those anticipated works commence in the next few years.
