THE Irish government has approved the reinstatement of the Athenry to Claremorris and Waterford (Belview) to Rosslare Strand lines, which were mothballed in 2001 and 2010 respectively.
The decision was announced on December 5.
These reinstatements had been identified in the Draft All Island Strategic Rail Review as potentially being important passenger and freight links in the cross-country route between Rosslare Europort and Ballina.
The decision to reopen the lines was made before a formal adoption of recommendations contained in the review. Previously, on November 27, transport minister Eamon Ryan, Iarnród Éireann CEO Jim Meade and other VIPs attended a ceremony at Woodbrook, between Shankill and Bray in south Dublin, to mark the start of construction of a new DART station. Planned to be opened during 2025, this will feature two 174m platforms and the usual elements of an inner suburban station. It is being provided prior to the building of more than 2000 houses on a green field site in an area which previously had a halt which closed in 1960.
On December 5, there was an announcement by IE that the
