Report recommends reopening of Cavan railway

'We have to stop thinking of it as a pipedream' says Donnelly

Cavan could once again have a train line if the recommendations of a new railway review are taken on board.

The All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and was published this afternoon. Amongst it recommendations for the coming decades is the that the government develop the railway to boost connectivity in the North Midlands.

"Reinstating the railway between Portadown, Cavan, Mullingar, and Athlone would address several regional connectivity gaps," reads the report. "Building a new link between Maynooth and Adamstown and dualling the railway to Mullingar would also add capacity to support services to this region."

It later recommends: "Restoring the Mullingar-Athlone link, allowing direct services between Belfast and Galway via Cavan."

Demand

Local Green Party representative Tate Donnelly is an advocate for the expansion of rail in rural Ireland and told the Celt he would welcome the return of rail to Cavan and Monaghan.

“One report is very positive but really we have to make it a political issue,” says Mr Donnelly. “I think the people of Cavan and Monaghan really need to demand it from their local representatives for years to come.

"It has the potential to be transformative. We have to stop thinking of it as a pipedream but as something that we actually need as a way to help reduce emissions.”