Campaigners hold out hope for Very Light Rail study for Galway

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Campaigners are holding out hope that the Minister for Transport will order a feasibility study into the potential for a ‘Very Light Rail’ network to be built in Galway City.

The GLUAS group believes that new ‘VLR’ technology – battery powered, lighter and cheaper than Luas-type light rail – could play a major role in alleviating the city’s road congestion problem.

Spokesperson Brendan Holland told the Galway City Tribune: “In the past 18 months, there have been huge developments in ultra light rail. We still hold out hope that the Minister will look at this for Galway. Buses are, of course, part of the solution to the city’s traffic congestion, but ultra light rail would be a real game-changer.

“We accept we’re a small city, but we’re a smart city and also the 63rd worst city in the world for congestion,” said Mr Holland.

A prototype car for a VLR system in Coventry, England, is currently nearing completion – it will have 56 seats and room for 60 people standing, will be battery powered and have a range of 20km on a single charge (with rapid charging at the end of a route).

The GLUAS group – which will soon be renamed to take cognisance of huge changes in rail technology in recent years – believes such a system could be introduced in Galway City at a cost of around €200m.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story and for more on opposition to the plan, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.