Velorail renews Tuam to Athenry greenway home

The decision to lease a section of the Western Rail Corridor for a leisure activity has re-ignited a campaign in Tuam to develop a walking and cycling greenway along the ten-mile stretch of track to Athenry.

Because the decision to facilitate a velorail along a 13 kilometres of the track through Kiltimagh in County Mayo means that the rail itself cannot now be developed over the twelve years of that agreement.

Efforts to have a feasibility study carried out on the merits of having a greenway between Tuam and Athenry were recently rejected by members of Galway County Council; the vote was tied at 16 each before the Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Connolly using his casting vote to block the proposal.

But the announcement that 13 kilometres of the track is to be leased for a velorail – pedal cycles on four wheels – has now given renewed hope to the Tuam greenway campaign.

And it has prompted a public meeting in the town on Friday week at which all sporting and recreational organisations in Tuam will be invited. The organisers are confident that it will put their greenway proposal back on the agenda again.

The Tuam Greenway Campaign say that if Irish Rail are willing to make available the railway for such purposes, then they should have no problem with a walking and cycling route.

Tuam businessman Alan McGrath told The Connacht Tribune that it was obvious that nothing was going to be done with the track for the next twelve years so there should be no problem with it being open to a greenway for that period of time at least.

“We are just anxious to provide a walking and cycling route for individuals and families that will not require any compulsory purchase order and we feel that the disused rail track is ideal for this purpose.

“Time and time again, we have been knocked back by those who believe that the old railway line will reopen but we know that this is not going to happen in our or our children’s lifetimes so why not put it to good use,” Mr McGrath said.

The controversial issue of reopening the Western Rail Corridor for the provision of a cycling route has split community groups as well as dividing the views of elected representatives. It has become one of the most contentious issues in the area in recent years.

Some of the more seasoned members of Galway County Council are totally opposed to the greenway running along the old railway track while some of the younger councillors are totally in favour of such a tourist facility.

Alan McGrath said that it was a major development that Irish Rail were now willing to lease part of the Western Rail Corridor for a recreational project and that this bode well for a potential greenway between Tuam and Athenry making some progress.