One step forward, two steps back with Irish Rail's improvements

Cllr Keith Martin has received assurances from the Chief Executive of Irish Rail, Mr Richard Fearn, that the provision of hot food on the Westport line is currently being examined by Irish Rail and their food sub-contractors Rail Gourmet Ltd and that Irish Rail is also reviewing the price differences between the Westport and Galway lines.  Mr Fern was responding to concerns raised by the Labour councillor in December 2008.  Mr Fearn also pointed out that Irish Rail was offering  a €15 fare on the Westport-Dublin line on their website.

While welcoming the special online fares and the review of catering facilities and ticket prices Cllr Keith Martin says that the improvements made over the last year by Irish Rail have raised more concerns than they have solved.  

According to the Cllr Martin "The new trains have no hot food buffet cars, the trolley car service is not up to the job, you can't move from carraige to carraige without disembarking, they have no space for bicycles and this week Irish Rail announced that they were canceling their parcel service as well.  In addittion to this Irish Rail have started charging for parking and have begun clamping cars.  

"Even more disappointingly we now we learn that the promised Early-Bird Train service to Dublin is on hold.  It has been a case of one step forward two steps back over the last year."

Cllr Martin has called for a united campaign by Mayo's local authorities, businesses interests and community groups to campaign for a quality train service and, in particular, an Early-Bird train service which will allow passengers to reach Dublin before 9am.  The campaign already has the support of Castlebar Town Council and Castlebar Chamber of Commerce and at the January meeting of Westport Town Council Cllr Martin called on the Town Clerk to contact Mayo's other local authorities and chambers of commerce to enlist their support.

According to Cllr Martin "a quality train service is an issue for all of Mayo as a population of over 125,000 is served by the Westport to Dublin line and an Early Bird train is a vital piece of infrastructure which will remove cars from the roads and facilitate businesses and holiday makers coming to and from the county."

"We need to work together to call for buffet cars, bicycle spaces, Early-Bird services, free parking and fair fares.  We cannot do it as individual councils or towns but we can do it as a county-wide campaign."

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