Carol Nolan urges second platform at Clara train station
Carol Nolan addressed a motion and urged the Minister to approve construction of a second platform at Clara train station. She cited the All-Island Strategic Rail Review's outline of economic and social benefits and highlighted boarding problems that prevent some passengers from using services.
Carol Nolan referenced the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and said its assessment of economic and social benefits is important context for improving rail infrastructure.
She outlined how Clara once had two railway stations and two junctions, one branching to Mullangar and the other to Bannerhur, and that the current station is built beside a passing loop. Only the train using the main track can allow passengers to board or alight; the train on the passing loop stops but cannot allow boarding because it does not have a platform.
Carol Nolan detailed the catchment area served by Clara station, naming Clara, Moat, Rahan, Bally, Cumber, Kilbegan, Tuber and Forban, and said many people in these communities cannot use specific services due to the platform arrangement. She cited her constituent Barry Flynn's research in describing the recurring daily occurrences.
She told the Minister that the cost of constructing the second platform would be a capital cost and would be a tiny percentage and asked the Minister to consider constructing the second platform at Clara to resolve the boarding issue.
All-Island Strategic Rail Review
Carol Nolan referenced the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and said its assessment of economic and social benefits is important context for improving rail infrastructure.
Clara station layout and boarding problem
She outlined how Clara once had two railway stations and two junctions, one branching to Mullangar and the other to Bannerhur, and that the current station is built beside a passing loop. Only the train using the main track can allow passengers to board or alight; the train on the passing loop stops but cannot allow boarding because it does not have a platform.
Local catchment and daily impact
Carol Nolan detailed the catchment area served by Clara station, naming Clara, Moat, Rahan, Bally, Cumber, Kilbegan, Tuber and Forban, and said many people in these communities cannot use specific services due to the platform arrangement. She cited her constituent Barry Flynn's research in describing the recurring daily occurrences.
Cost argument and request to the Minister
She told the Minister that the cost of constructing the second platform would be a capital cost and would be a tiny percentage and asked the Minister to consider constructing the second platform at Clara to resolve the boarding issue.
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Transcript
Minister, I wish you the very best in your new role also and look forward to working with you. Count Corlea or Cahierlach, I am happy to speak on this motion this morning and I commend the Independent and Parties Group for bringing it forward. I particularly want to reference the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the manner in which the review outlines economic and social benefits. I think this is incredibly important. Indeed, regarding my own constituency of Offaly, I would like to raise ongoing issues regarding Clara train station. As my Constituent Barry Flynn has noted through his extensive research on this issue, Clara was once the location of two railway stations and two railway junctions, one branching off mainline to Mullangar and the other branching off the mainline to Bannerhur. It has been built beside what is called a passing loop. This means that both trains serving the station at the same time can allow passengers to embark or indeed disembark. Unfortunately and bizarrely in Clara this does not happen. Only the train using the main track can allow passengers to board or alight. The train using the passing loop stops, but because it does not have a platform, passengers cannot enter or exit. This happens on a number of occasions daily. This means that many people from the Clara railway station catchment area, which includes Clara, Moat, Rahan, Bally, Cumber, Kilbegan, Tuber and Forban, who would like to use a specific service cannot do so. Minister, the cost of constructing the second platform would be a capital cost and would be a tiny percentage. So I want you to consider constructing the second platform at Clara train station.