SINN Féin councillor Ursula Gavan urged Mayor John Moran to support her call for additional train services for Castleconnell.
Speaking after the Mayor launched his mayoral programme this past week, Cllr Gavan highlighted the urgent need for new thinking to tackle traffic gridlock across the city.
“We badly need improved public transport to alleviate the worsening traffic congestion that is causing huge frustration to commuters and businesses. The Mayor’s programme must incorporate radical proposals for change,” Cllr Gavan said.
“One source of untapped potential is our existing rail network which could, with some investment, make a much greater contribution to reducing traffic across the city.”
Mayor Moran has pointed to the progress in enhanced train services in Cork as a model for Limerick. In this regard, Cllr Gavan believes that Castleconnell Train Station could become the “Midleton of Limerick”, helping alleviate congestion into the city via Annacotty Business Park and the Parkway Shopping Centre.
“Most days commuters line up to access the Mackey Roundabout from Castleconnell, the motorway, and Newport from 8am and again at evening rush hour,” she said.
“We have a station that could help alleviate this with more frequent services. I am calling for additional morning, lunchtime, and evening services from Castleconnell, incorporating a park and ride at Lisnagry and an additional new stations at Annacotty Business Park and Ballysimon.”
The Sinn Féin councillor said “we have to be ambitious for our city and county, and that ambition must start with renewal and expansion of local services”.
