By Ronan Casey
Controversy continues to gather over the proposed reopening of the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line to re-open as a cycleway/ path, with critics believing the journey will be a boring one with little to see. It is also being argued that facilities for refreshments between Mull- ingar and Moate are “non-existent”.
There is also a real danger that the €4 million project could go way over budget as a controversial plan to ‘clip on’ the cycleway route in Athlone to Custume Bridge is being reviewed.
Director of Services for the new Athlone Municipal District of the Council, Mr Barry Kehoe, confirmed they are looking at another option. “We are looking at an independent crossing somewhere in the vicinity of the railway bridge as an independent structure,” he said.
The change comes after Transport Minister Leo Varadkar issued a policy statement, in which he described “the strong issue of segregation with such cycleways”.
Now, instead of joining onto the old Athlone railway bridge, Mr Kehoe says “we are now looking at the option of a route down near the bridge. That option gives us the segregation referred to by Minister Varadkar.”
BORING
Just before the by-election and local elections in May, the government promised €4 million to re-open the disused line as a cycleway. During a visit to Mullingar as he drummed up support for Gabrielle McFadden in the by-election last month, the Taoiseach claimed 40 jobs would be created locally in adding a cycleway alongside the rail line, with a further 40 possible once the line was opened.
Mr Kenny told Topic he would himself cycle the 40km between the two towns once the cycleway was open.
But Mr. Bob Morrisson, who was a key figure in the campaign to reopen the line for trains, not bikes, described the route of the proposed cycleway as a “very boring one” as high banks are the main feature of the line and facilities for refreshments, etc., between Mullingar and Moate, are “practically nonexistent and will have to be built at extra cost.”
The majority of the old train stations, former post offices and even shops along the route are now mainly in private ownership.
Another Mullingar man who campaigned for the line to be reopened as a rail link, businessman and fitness fanatic, Des Walsh, said whilst anything to promote tourism in Westmeath has to be welcomed, he also felt the journey will be boring due to the high banks that dominate most of its length from Ballinea onwards. He recently jogged a long length of the line and said access and egress from it is quite tricky, meaning it will be hard to provide facilities ‘off track’ for cyclists until they reach the end of the line, as it were.
He also pointed out that it would be difficult for walkers, joggers and runners to share the line with their cycling chums.
In Athlone and Moate, there is also growing interest in the project. There is still some concern locally about the proposed location of a new bridge over the River Shannon to take the cyclists. Certainly, even in Garrycastle in the aftermath of the opening of the new bridge over the rail line and the increased business potential of the area, opportunities are being examined with a view to looking beyond the opening of the cycleway.
PUBLIC PARK
Vacant lands along the old rail line in Athlone are being eyed up by potential investors. In Mullingar, quite a lot of land alongside the track – particularly from Patrick Street to the Clonmore Bridge – belongs to the Council.
Newly-elected Councillor Andrew Duncan feels this land should be made into a public park, which would create a ‘welcome’ and good first impression for those coming into Mullingar via the cycleway.
A large amount of Council land borders the canal on one side and the railway track on the other. Cllr Duncan feels a public park, with community sports pitches, walking areas, children’s playgrounds, etc. would be ideal. From costings he looked into recently, a footbridge could be constructed over the canal and rail line linking both sides of the park quite reasonably.
Details on the cycleway build are few and far between at the moment. Gabrielle McFadden TD says full details of the cycleway will be released soon, but she is fully supportive of it and dismisses criticism that it will be a boring journey.
Athlone Mayor Frankie Keena told Topic he wants a full briefing report on the cycleway at the next full meeting of the Council.
KILLS RAIL REOPENING
The new cycleway effectively kills off a proposal to reopen the rail line to create a new transport link between Dublin and Galway, serving Connolly. Since its closure in the 1980s, comprehensive reports and proposals recommended its reopening.
Mr. Morrison, who was part of the campaign to re-open the railway line between the two towns, expressed disappointment at the €4 million investment and pointed out that the Midland Railway Action Group’s proposal proved that the reopening of the Athlone-Mullingar railway line could be done for as little as €86 million.
He also claimed in an interview with Topic that the former Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, told him that the reopening was “a no brainer” and funding was stitched into the Gateway Fund for it to happen. However, for whatever reason, the funding was not signed off locally.
