All-Island Rail Review: Potential benefits for Leitrim in Strategic Vision for 2050

On July 31, the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, published the long awaited final report of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. This groundbreaking report sets out a strategic vision for the development of the rail system across the island of Ireland over the coming decades.

The Report sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, aligning with net carbon zero commitments in both jurisdictions. 

The Report also involves the construction of new rail lines, particularly in the North Midlands and North West, meaning 700,000 more people would live within 5km of a railway station. A railway will be extended into Co. Tyrone, Derry and into Letterkenny in Co. Donegal. 

The North West has notoriously struggled without train services since Donegal's last trains ceased operations in 1965 and were never reinstated.

While Leitrim may not see new direct rail lines, the county may be positively impacted by the potential restoration of the Western Rail Corridor. The corridor would enhance links between Limerick, Galway and the North West, possibly impacting towns like Carrick-on-Shannon. 

Improving the overall rail network will help even areas without new lines, by making services more efficient and better connected to major hubs.

Finola McGuire, President of Carrick-on-Shannon Chamber said: “The opening of the Western corridor would be beneficial, there’s no doubt about it.

“We’re very central here in Carrick-on-Shannon and we’re easily accessed through the current network but more would be very positive.

“To bring infrastructure this way that brings people off the roads and allows them to move through the train services would be great.

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“It was always difficult to get from Carrick-on-Shannon to Galway. I absolutely see that the rail network and Bus Éireann has to be used more and more, and it will be. The free travel qualifications have been improved recently too.

“I’d certainly welcome the opening of further carriages by Iarnrod Éireann. It should be totally the first option that people take and there should be space given for people to travel,” Ms McGuire remarked.

Senator Lisa Chambers hopes to see regional development and the Western Rail Corridor come to fruition.

“I have been a big advocate for regional development for the last decade, and a key project for me is the Western Rail Corridor. The connection between Galway and Mayo into Claremorris is hugely important for commuters in the West of Ireland.

“The commuters of the West deserve to have faster travel, more frequent services, and additional capacity,” Senator Chambers said.

“We need to connect the West of Ireland. We cannot continue to focus on Dublin and the commuter belt and the other cities.”

The Report also sees an increase in speed of 200km/h on the core intercity railway network along with an upgrade to the track which will make train journeys generally faster than car travel. Regional and rural lines will be increased to 120km/h.

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Five projects in Leitrim are set to benefit from the additional funding

If all the Review’s recommendations are followed until 2050, the total cost across Ireland and Northern Ireland is estimated to be around €35 to 37 billion. If the investment in Ireland is split evenly across 25 years, it would amount to €1 billion per year in addition with current plans.