An Expert Working Group has been established to examine in detail the potential of the Western Rail Corridor as part of the rail link that would connect Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Cork.
The Working Group will be chaired by Pat McCann, Chief Executive of Jurys Doyle Hotel Group. He is a native of Ballymote, Co Sligo and has been involved in the hotel and tourism industry in Ireland since 1969.
Announcing the setting up of the Group, Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said it consisted of people of the highest calibre.
The Group is comprised of the Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Limerick and Cork County Managers, the directors of the West, Mid West, Border and South West Regional Authorities, delegates from the Western Development Commission, the Inter County Rail Commission, the West on Track Group, Iarnrod Eireann, the Railway Procurement Agency and the Department of Transport.
'The Western Rail Corridor has the potential to play a vital strategic role in the eventual rebalancing of the west coast with the east coast, a policy I am strongly committed to as part of the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy,' the Minister said.
The Strategic Rail Review did not include the corridor in its recommended investment strategy, but the Minister said he did not accept that finding as final.
'After meeting with a number of groups advocating the re-opening of the corridor and making an extensive tour of the rail route, I agreed that the proposal should be carefully evaluated and its potential examined from all relevant perspectives,' Mr Brennan said.
