Minister of State Frank Feighan, along with Cllr Fergal Nealon this week met with Sligo Station Manager Mary Connolly to discuss a range of improvements at Sligo train station and on the Dublin to Sligo line with a number of important topics discussed during the course of the meeting.
The meeting covered four priority issues: the introduction of an early morning commuter service originating in Longford; improved car parking capacity at the station; an upgrade to the station roof and the reintroduction of catering services for passengers.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Feighan said, “Sligo station is a vital piece of infrastructure for this region, for commuters, for students, and for the growing number of visitors arriving into the north west by rail. I want to thank Mary Connolly and her team for their time and for the very constructive engagement.
“An early morning commuter train from Longford would make a real difference to people travelling for work and study. Car parking capacity at the station remains a pressure point, and the roof requires an upgrade. The return of catering services would also be a significant improvement for passengers on what is a long journey.
“These are practical, achievable improvements. I want to acknowledge the work of Councillor Fergal Nealon, who has raised these issues locally and who will continue to work with me on them. I will continue to work alongside Cllr Nealon, my Oireachtas colleagues, Irish Rail and all relevant stakeholders to advance each of these issues and to ensure Sligo gets the rail service it deserves.”
Deputy Eamon Scanlon was also in discussion with Iarnród Eireann in relation to issues at MacDiarmada Station saying, “Irish Rail has confirmed that a comprehensive refurbishment of the station roof remains a project it wishes to progress, although funding has yet to be secured. A major project is required and it will examine opportunities to link this with the future development of a second platform at Mac Diarmada Station Sligo.”
In relation to the lack of parking facilities at the station, Deputy Scanlon stated, “A review of parking requirements is nearing completion, which will help inform decisions on future investment in station parking and transport connectivity.
Deputy Scanlon also spoke about the lack of catering services on the Sligo train noting, “The catering pilot on the Dublin-Galway service is part of a six-month pilot programme with Irish company Sambos.ie. It is being used to assess whether onboard catering can be provided more widely across the Intercity network on a commercial basis. Irish Rail has indicated that there is potential to extend the service to additional routes during the course of the pilot.”
Senator Nessa Cosgrove welcomed the comments of Minister Feighan and Deputy Scanlon saying, “It is really encouraging to see that our three Government TDs are at last beginning to demand better rail services for Sligo and Leitrim.
“For too long there has been silence from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Government supporting Independent TDs in Sligo-Leitrim.
“Through my role, sitting on the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Transport, I increasingly observe how Oireachtas members in different parts of the country work together to achieve improved services for their own constituencies. This can clearly be seen in Galway where the Government TDs have worked alongside opposition members and have delivered not only a renovated Ceannt station and the restoration of catering services, but secured in the All-Island Rail Review commitments to work towards an hourly service between Dublin and Galway and the delivery of an hourly service.”
Calling for greater co-operation between locally elected elected representatives to highlight these matters Senator Cosgrove said, “In Mayo we saw Oireachtas members working together to deliver the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor as far as Claremorris.
“Compare that to the situation in Sligo-Leitrim, where Government TDs play both sides of the fence on the delivery of the Western Rail Corridor or a Greenway. Why can’t we have both? Why can’t we work together to deliver both? The greenway would be an asset, the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor is an essential piece of regional infrastructure, which will not only deliver passengers and freight along the Western seaboard, it will deliver prosperity and economic, social and cultural dynamism.
“Why do we have to be satisfied with second-rate services? The all-Island Rail Review talks of an aspiration of a two-hourly service to Dublin, with only small improvements to the painfully slow journey times. There is still no catering services and no early morning commuter train.
“We have no roof on our station, even though it was built with one. Sligo-MacDiarmada is named in honour of one of our greatest national heroes, Sean MacDiarmada. The current condition of the building does not show his memory anything like the level of respect that he deserves. Within the next few days I am meeting a senior engineer from Irish Rail to look at the situation of the roof, and how it can be remedied, and will be pointing out the fantastic work which has been done in Galway and also at Howth, where a historic glass canopy roof was restored to a very high standard, in house by Irish Rail staff.
“Irish Rail have the expertise and personnel to deliver on all these issues, but they need the support and finance to do so from central Government. Let’s hear more from our Ministers about how they will deliver that support.
Issues surrounding the station and the train line were also raised by Cllr Marie Casserly who has also been in communication with representatives of Iarnród Eireann and she has welcomed confirmation that the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy identifies a second platform at Sligo Station and a passing loop between Sligo and Boyle as projects recommended for early prioritisation.
Significantly, Iarnród Éireann has also confirmed that it will examine the potential for incorporating the much-needed roof works at Sligo Station into the delivery of the proposed second platform.
Welcoming the update she received, Cllr Casserly said, “I particularly welcome the confirmation that Iarnród Éireann will examine the possibility of incorporating the long-awaited roof works at Sligo Station into the development of the new platform.”
She added, “We cannot lose sight of the wider infrastructure requirements on this line. Double tracking between Maynooth and Mullingar remains an important objective and we must continue to lobby strongly for the funding needed to progress it.
“Investment in the Sligo line should be viewed as a long-term commitment to improving connectivity for the north-west. The second platform, the Boyle passing loop and future double tracking are all important elements in delivering a more reliable and resilient railway service.”
Cllr Casserly also highlighted the continued need for an earlier morning train service from Dublin to Sligo. She said that the proposed passing loop between Sligo and Boyle could provide greater operational flexibility and should help make the case for improved scheduling and an earlier service for commuters and other passengers travelling to Sligo.
“An earlier morning train into Sligo remains an important priority. With greater capacity and flexibility provided by the proposed passing loop, I believe we should be actively exploring how this infrastructure can support an improved timetable and better connections for people travelling from the north-west.”
Cllr Casserly also noted that while a pilot on-board catering service has commenced on selected Dublin–Galway services, she will continue to advocate for improved passenger facilities on the Dublin–Sligo route.
Cllr Casserly said it was now essential that the necessary funding and detailed timelines were put in place for the projects identified in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy.
Cllr Casserly noted the strategy identifies a target of 2030, adding, we now need to see the necessary funding, detailed timelines and real progress.
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.