MacManus welcomes second Bradley Report outlining strong rationale for Mayo-Sligo rail line

The Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North-West, Chris MacManus, has welcomed a report, outlining a strong economic and regional growth rationale for restoring the Mayo and Sligo rail link. The report, edited by former ESRI Research Professor Dr John Bradley, outlines the benefits of re-establishing the rail link and provides preliminary cost estimates for its restoration based on information provided by railway engineers and the previous restoration of the Ennis-Athenry line.

MacManus, a long-standing supporter of restoring the Western Rail Corridor, has said the rail line is crucial to address regional imbalance, reverse rural decline and to meet Ireland’s climate targets.

MacManus said:

“I welcome the report published today (Tuesday) which makes a strong case for restoring a rail link between Mayo and Sligo. We in Sinn Féin fully support re-opening the Western Rail Corridor and connecting the West and North West region. We need any future government to have the same level of ambition for our region as this report.” 

“For too long, our region has been neglected by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments, preventing the Atlantic Economic Corridor from reaching its full potential.” 

“We in Sinn Féin are fully committed to comprehensively addressing the regional imbalance, and we see investing and fully restoring the Western Rail Corridor as a core aspect of this.” 

ENDS