The development of the Western Rail Corridor would impact positively on Ballina, as a major national and international freight hub.

That’s according to the freight company IWT who have already established a major freight hub at Ballina railway station.

The company’s CEO addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport earlier this week and outlined how the Western Rail Corridor, if extended, would facilitate and expand its transport business, with direct access to Waterford Port, and to Foynes - two developing ports that will give Irish business better access to the Continent now that Brexit is in place.

Mayo Fianna Fail deputy Dara Calleary attended that meeting and he says he is strongly behind the long running campaign by West on Track to develop the Western Rail Corridor and he says in addition the government must now consider subsidizing rail freight, as a more sustainable and efficient method of transport.

Deputy Calleary has been telling to Midwest News more about IWT, a company that has invested 2 million euro at its Ballina base over recent years.