[Simon]

I am delighted to see the Galway/Limerick line reopen. We need better public transport throughout the Island.

However, I am concerned about journey time - 2 hours for approx. 150KM is far too long, that is equivalent to a bus journey.
A train service, because of its inherent lack of flexibility, must be faster than private transport.

There is also the issue of planning, surely major transport links like Shannon should have been taken into account - I hope there is at least a shuttle service from Shannon to the nearest rail station, and the price of the rail ticket should include the shuttle.

As the projected development is to go through Mayo and onto Sligo and Derry, lets hope that Knock airport is integrated to the line.

We also need to see the service extended south, providing a direct Cork-Limerick-Galway line to provide a better rail service to the south and mid-west.

Shannon, in my opinion, is being consistently downgraded, with the lack of US passport control (which Dublin now has) in the Airport particularly harsh.
Lets hope that future transport planning takes these issues into account.

[MadasHell]

Would agree totally with sentiments above. Remember though this line was open under protest by CIE and really they have no commitment to it. This could be a major infrastruture and development aid to the western region if foresight and ambition was shown by the powers that be. All the signs are though that this is just a sop to the western region. the journey times, the lack of late evening/ night time services, the failure to link to the airports etc just highlights the piecemeal and shoddy way things are done here and is evidence of a lack of support for public transport in general. Roads is where it is at with this crowd. Obviously large developers, quarry owners, sand and gravel guys dont get as much public money from rail construction and landowners dont get any public monies either so the FF parish pumps dont get to dip their beak. Also think of the effect on car sales, car tax insurance etc if you had a proper public transport service. The Western Rail corridor should be from Derry to Cork with residential construction concentrated in the towns it passes through. People living in those towns should be within walking distance of the station ( the new station for Oranmore, one of Galway's larger suburbs is so far away from the village and residential areas that everyone will have to drive there, so they may as well keep driving to the city anyways). we need proper spatial and development plan for this country.

[RBurke]

We also need to see the service extended south, providing a direct Cork-Limerick-Galway line to provide a better rail service to the south and mid-west.

Its astonishing that its not already in place, a link by rail between the three largest cities in the country besides the capital. It would be nice to have express lines as well, which would be tricky, but doable.

[MadasHell]

Again I believe we must start anew with this issue as with every issue. The country needs a thought out and comprehensive development and spatial strategy. I have had some ideas on this. All may not be "do able" but as a basis for a plan it may be useful

Now again is the time to review our country and renew our country. Too long this country has been too Dublin centered and the disgraceful focus on development in the greater Dublin region has been madness. What I propose is a better regional spread and a proper regional strategy.

i. Explore the possibility of developing Foynes into a world-class port comparable with Hamburg and Rotterdam allowing it to become a gateway from the rest of the world to Europe and visa-versa.
ii. Build a new capital city in the midlands ( athlone, area?) Move all government depts. the Dail, senad national gallery, national theatre, sports campus and national stadium there. This of course should be properly planned with proper public transport, schools housing, civic and recreation amenities. It should also be linked to the Primary cities by direct rail and motorway. Design of landmark and prestige buildings should also be incorporated. Existing civil service buildings in Dublin could be sold to help fund new development. This new capital should have the national civic sites such as a National stadium and sports campus, National theatre, National concert hall, National conference center and National museums and galleries etc. Compulsory purchase orders and fast track planning should be used for all developments under national development plan.
iii. Dublin, Cork and Galway should be designated 1st element cities. These should be centrally planned again with proper public transport provisions, recreation and civic facilities etc. It should be envisaged to quadruple Galways’population in ten years and double Corks’ while maintaining or shrinking Dublin’s’ in ten years. These cities will be regional capitals. This would mean that they provide the major health facilities, employment university and recreation centers for their regions. Major concert and theatre venues, special medical care and surgery, regional administration, employment and research centers should be centralized in these cities. These cities should also become ‘hothouse’ zones for certain industries. Dublin could be the center for the IT and Financial Services, Galway the center for media and film, medical devices and marine research and Cork concentrating on agriculture, bio engineering, material and green tech development. Also a major Atlantic City/Las Vegas type development should be allowed in |Cork harbour (Whiddy or Spike Island). All areas should market themselves as a tourist destination.
Iv The country should be divided into regions for administration and development purposes, with an overall, centralized, cohesive and comprehensive plan put in place and adhered to. This should include all elements of life (not just economic) such as educational, health, where we live and population concentration, social and recreation, transport, air connectivity, agriculture, energy supply etc. The regions should be along the lines of Atlantic coast to include Donegal, Connaught, Clare and Limerick, South for an area of Munster less North Riding Tipperary and including Kilkenny Carlow and Wexford. East to include Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Wicklow and Midlands to cover the areas left. Each Region should have a directly elected Governor with real powers and responsibility for health, education and policing numbers and provision, Employment, tourism and transport strategy and forward strategic planning within the guidelines of a National Plan. A Governor would be having the power to nominate non-elected commissioners to deal with strategic areas and to bring in outside expertise. An elected general assembly should monitor and hold the Governor and commissioners to account approve budgets and plans etc. The major cities should have a directly elected mayor with specified powers. This would and should lead to the abolition of many of the county and city councils around the country