Early morning train service between Longford and Sligo called for by Leitrim councillor

Cllr Sean McGowan asked Leitrim County Council to call on Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to provide an early morning commuter train service, Monday to Friday, between Longford and Sligo to "cater for the large number of people who work, attend college, or hospital appointments etc. on a daily basis. There is a demand for such a service, and it would be extensively used and would be welcomed by the communities who live along or close to the Sligo - Dublin Line."

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Cllr McGowan appealed to groups within the county such as Tidy Towns groups, the Chamber of Commerce and business associations to contact Iarnród Éireann CEO Mary Considine in relation to the route. 

He said that publicity from organisations in Longford, Roscommon, Sligo as well as Leitrim, was needed to push things forward. "There is a need for this service and we need to get funding from the NTA to get it across the line."

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr McGowan said: "There is a loop in Carrick-on-Shannon but they never use it; there used to be a crossing point in Carrick-on-Shannon and there needs to be another one in Ballymote. It's a long stretch from Sligo to Boyle so if there was a train waiting to go to Sligo, they have other train arrives back up so if there was a crossing point at Ballymote, it certainly would help."

Last year Cllr McGowan put forward a similar motion and got a response from NTA's Interim Chief Executive Hugh Creegan who said that "the provision of a regular ‘commuter’ early morning and evening service between Longford and Sligo has merit and the proposal will be considered as part of our planning work for the 2025 rail timetable revision"  however he has yet to hear back about the proposed service. 

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Cllr Felim Gurn supported the motion saying he recently got the train from Dromod and it was "packed on the way back to the point people were standing. I think it will take the pressure off other zones such as Sligo IT where there's a shortage of space for people to commute on the train."

He noted that €10 billion is to be spent on a MetroLink rail line in Dubin so "surely to God, we should be looking for more services from Sligo to Dublin. It makes sense and it's a great service. It's something we have to fight for."

Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn also supported the motion and added that she believes Iarnród Éireann should include Sligo on the fast track line set to be installed in Mullingar. 

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Cllr Róisín Kenny fully supported the motion and she said that she was aware of individuals taking courses in Sligo "who can't get down there before 9am. I think it's essential that a train is available for those working at 9am and that facility is there. It would also take pressure off the housing situation in Sligo and many people could sent their children to college or maybe even return to education if there was a train service there, they could rely on."

Cllr Enda McGloin recalled a meeting with Irish Rail executives last year who supported Cllr McGowan's initiative as did Cllr Justin Warnock who said that "if it rail infrastructure in North West of Ireland is improved, we're going nowhere. This region is in transition and we need to improve the infrastructure to get people in and out, especially our young people."

Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte also supported the motion who said that investment was needed in the Dublin-Sligo line with Cllr Cormac Flynn also voicing his support.