Calls to keep train station open to public
CONCERNS about the future of the train station in Greystones were raised at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council.
Cllr Grainne McLoughlin called for a suspension of standing orders to discuss the matter saying it would have a major effect on the town if the main station building were closed.
She said that Irish Rail had proposed to close the main station building to commuters in Greystones and to change its use for retail. The proposal also includes a provision for alternative access routes at the station including another area not on the main street.
‘In other words the Greystones Station Building will no longer be a public station but rather another retail unit to the detriment of public transport users’, she said. ‘The importance of the train station to the residents of North Wicklow and commuters coming as far as Arklow cannot be under-estimated.
‘From a disability access perspective, despite reassurances from Irish Rail that the Greystones Station was not about to become unmanned all signs point to the distinct possibility of that happening. Irrelevant of the fact that assisted service is been reduced from 24 hours to four hours, it still would not replace staff.
‘In addition the planned access and egress to the station without any covering would plainly not be able to facilitate the huge number of commuters - who would be left with no waiting room during the long winter months. There is also the issue of safety at peak times as to whether the planned new exits would be able to accommodate such volume of commuters.
‘We must also be cognisant that the station is an iconic building in the heart of the town and there is no justification of allowing for its change of use. The community of Greystones and the community of commuters are all against this plan and it is imperative that it cannot be allowed to be developed in any manner to the detriment of the town. I am urging Wicklow County Council members to support this notice of motion and to write to Irish Rail to ask them to revert this decision.’
She was supported by Cllr Derek Mitchell who said that the station currently has a well lit and sheltered waiting area which is needed. He said that the Greystones station is the fifth busiest suburban station and with limited services it has heavy peak loads.
‘People must queue to get off the platform, out of the station and out of the Park n’ Ride. Each of these needs increased throughput. A simple change is to install a second street door. Use of a shuttle train in the longer term will require altering the track and platform layout to allow convenient changes.
‘Waiting numbers are much greater than other DART stations and an enclosed, lit area is needed. The Bray Greystones track is less reliable than the rest of the DART which means extra waiting.’
Cllr Mitchell also said that the park and ride car park needed to be enlarged to deal with the volume of commuters.
Green Party Councillor Steven Matthews however said that while he didn’t want to see the building closed he felt that Fine Gael ‘were speaking from two sides of their mouths’.
‘I think this is just spin and speaking from both sides of the mouth. Annual funding to Irish Rail is down €90million. Those decisions are made at the cabinet table. Before we make a fool of ourselves writing to Irish Rail we should talk to our five TD’s. These decisions are made by them.’
The members agreed to write to Irish Rail and also the five TDs about the matter.