IRISH ANGLE

Money to be spent on new loop at Oranmore and redevelopment at Galway.

Grant for Galway area; rare outing for Bell container and 201 Class loco.

PUBLIC transport connectivity projects in the Galway area have received Government funding of €62.5million.

A €9.28million scheme at

Oranmore station will see the installation of a passing loop, an additional platform, plus extra car parking and landscaping. The loop will break up the 13-mile Galway to Athenry single-line section.

Galway station will be redeveloped, and the abutments of the Corrib river bridge on the closed (1935) and lifted Galway to Clifden line used for a new pedestrian/cycleway bridge.

Elsewhere, lobby group South East On Track has proposed that the closed station at Wexford South be reopened.

A large commercial development is to be built adjacent to the site, and the group has suggested that rail could offer a viable public transport alternative to the private car.