Calls for a feasibility study to be carried out on a railway line to run alongside the new N17 between Charlestown and Collooney has been rejected.
The motion was raised by Sligo councillor Marie Casserly at the recent County Council meeting, to construct a new rail line as opposed to current line which has been left idle for years.
The motion was defeated by 10 votes to 4, with those voting against feeling that a feasibility study would pose a delay to the N17 development, while they believed that the old rail track could accommodate future trains.
Cllr Barry Gallagher, who is based in South Sligo, was one of four councillors, including cllr Casserly, who backed the motion.
He said that he is fully in favour of a rail system but believes that it should run in line with the new N17 to get the best standard of train, and says that old line wouldn’t be able to accommodate.
The Curry cllr has been speaking to Midwest Radio’s Rian Bailey:
