Trade unionists back reopening of Western Rail Corridor at Belfast conference
The Western Rail Corridor got the backing of trade unionists on the first day of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Biennial Conference attended by more than 600 delegates at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
The motion by Castlebar Trades Council was unanimously agreed.
Secretary Donna Hyland said: 'I was delighted with the support our motion on the Western Rail Corridor received at conference. This was the first time that ICTU had formally adopted a motion in relation to the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor.
"After delegates had passed the motion, the General Secretary of SIPTU Joe Cunningham credited Castlebar Trades Council and the speakers from the various unions for one of the most interesting contributions' of the day.'
'The Western Rail Corridor will not only be an amenity for West of Ireland Tourism but it will be a key economic driver of our region. The social, environmental and economic value that the railway will bring will create stability for our region into the future.'
'If we are to meet our climate action targets and to address regional imbalance then we need to reopen the Western Rail Corridor as a vital piece of infrastructure for the people of the west and north-west of Ireland,' she added.
Bernie Ní Fhlatharta of the National Union of Journalists, speaking on the motion, said 'this was not an issue about a novelty train but a vital piece of infrastructure that would connect no less than five counties in the West of Ireland.'
She added that public transport was a necessary option if the Government expected people to reduce usage of private cars.
Castlebar Trades Council speaks as a collective for Trades Unions in Mayo.
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