Irish Railway Record Society

JOURNAL 171

STATIONS  

Boyle In November, IÉ applied for planning permission to re-locate the former signalbox, a protected structure, 2.1m south of its existing location. This is required to allow the down platform to be extended.

Carrigtwohill West In October, Cork County Council granted planning permission for a new station 3 miles west of the existing Carrigtwohill station. The station will be jointly funded by a development company and the IDA. The new station will service the nearby IDA industrial estate and Fota Retail and Business Park where nearly 3,500 people are employed. It will include a 90m long platform, shelters, ticket vending machines and a 94 space car park.

Dunkettle In November, An Bord Pleanála refused CIÉ planning permission for a new station at Dunkettle on the grounds ‘that development of the kind proposed would be premature pending the determination by the planning authority and the National Roads Authority of a road layout for the Dunkettle Interchange’. Cork County Council identified the site in July 2006, and granted CIÉ permission to build on it on 3 June 2008. This was appealed by the NRA. The Cork County Manager criticised the decision saying it went against Government policies to encourage people onto public transport.

Oranmore Station Controversy continues around the selection of the location for the new Oranmore station in the Athenry-Galway section. Local politicians are unhappy because the location selected by IÉ at Garraun is too far from the village and adjacent industrial estate. IÉ were quoted as saying that the former MGWR Oranmore station location was unsuitable as it did not have sufficient space for Park+Ride facilities. IÉ said the station will have a cycle track and pedestrian walkways linking it with both Oranmore and Doughiska areas.

Tara St In October, An Bord Pleanála advised CIÉ that significant changes would need to be made to its planning application for upgrade of Tara St station including construction of a 60m high office block (See JOURNAL 170). The Bord said that the proposed office building, because of its height and scale, would "adversely affect the setting of the Custom House, a protected structure of primary national importance, and by itself and by precedent, unduly detract from the visual character and amenities of the city centre". The Bord indicated that the main building needs to be reduced to 49.1m (161ft) and other buildings to be reduced by 11.7m (38ft) to correspond with the reduction in height of the main tower. It also said the layout at ground floor level "unduly restricts accessibility and circulation between the station concourse and the public realm". It has directed that it also be redesigned. The Bord gave CIÉ until 27 November to submit new designs and said it intends to make its final decision on the project by 1 February 2010. However during the public hearing on the proposed development in July 2009, CIÉ said the loss of any floors from the office tower would significantly reduce its commercial viability.

Copyright © 2010 by Irish Railway Record Society Ltd.
Revised: March 04, 2010 .