Irish Railway Record Society

STATIONS

Ballinasloe A completely new down platform, to the west of the former goods store, was brought into use on Tuesday 1 July, and the existing platform was closed

Castlebar IÉ has applied for planning permission for 94 extra car parking spaces.

Cork Commuter In June, planning permission was granted by Cork County Council for the new station and Park + Ride facility and Dunkettle. IÉ advertised for contractors to construct the new station and a similar one at Kilbarry. Both will feature two 90m platforms, a footbridge, lifts and a car park with 100 spaces.

However, the National Roads Authority (NRA) appealed the Dunkettle decision to An Bord Pleanála. The NRA wants to use the lands for an upgrade of the Dunkettle road interchange, which is the busiest in Cork . ‘The NRA supports improvements in public transport, but we are disappointed that we weren't formally consulted on the plans by IÉ’. IÉ said the NRA was consulted before planning permission was applied for: ‘... it is not their land. It is registered to Cork County Council for transport needs and the Park + Ride facility comes within this ambit. We will try and work constructively with Cork County Council and the NRA to see if we can resolve this issue’.

Tullamore A new footbridge and lifts are being installed. As a consequence, the down platform has been shortened by 44m to 185m.

Car Parks In July, CIÉ announced new car parking charges for many stations in the greater Dublin commuter area that had previously been free. CIÉ has placed a contract with Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems to manage fee collection, which is estimated to bring in €1m to help CIÉ invest in improving parking facilities. The contract will run until November 2011. The new charge is €2 per day or €8 per week. Thirty seven stations were affected, bounded by Dundalk , Longford, Gorey, Athlone and Portlaoise. Needless to say public and media reaction was generally unfavourable. Five years ago plans for charging at such stations were dropped at the request of the then Minister for Transport.

DEPOTS

Laois Traincare Depot The €69.5m depot was officially opened on Friday 25 July by the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Equality, John Moloney TD. A special train operated at 10:10 from Heuston Station, Dublin , to the Depot formed by 22005. The depot has a Sculfort battery powered 4-wheel ‘remote controlled locotractor’ for shunting and this is numbered 621. It was officially named ‘Driver Tom Lynam’ in honour of 92-year old former Portlaoise driver, who was present for the naming ceremony. No. 621 is in series with former G-class 4-wheel locomotives.

Copyright © 2008 by Irish Railway Record Society Ltd.
Revised: December 29, 2008 .