North Kerry (Great Southern Trail) Standoff

[minister_for_hardship]

Everything that's wrong with rural Ireland here....incl an idiot of a town counciller who should know better.

 

 

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/walkers-blocked-from-entering-kerry-on-old-rail-line/

 

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/listoweltown-councillor-called-on-to-make-a-statement-about-his-involvement-railway-line-protest/

[heirflick]

heres the reason..... ' CIE has confirmed to Radio Kerry News it’s received a solicitor’s letter from the group stating landowners have claim to sections of the rail line.

However CIE says it is of the opinion that the alignment is in full CIE ownership and that the landowners in question have no claim to the line.'

[jhb171achill]

Totally correct. Minister.

 

If the line never left CIE ownership, nobody but CIE have any claim to it.

[Broithe]

We've had a bit of that around here - on the closed Stafford/Newport and Stafford/Uttoxeter lines. People extending gardens and fields, blocking and flooding the route, etc...

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

The old line from Goraghwood to Newry is still owned by NIR and both new roads that cross the old line have bridges over it so that if NIR ever decide to run trains into the town again they can do so with out much hassel

[Mayner]

Did Kerry County Council convert part of the trackbed between Listowel and the Limerick border into a cyclepath or footpath?

 

Routes like the North Kerry are a drain on CIE no operating revenue or PSO grant and the liabilities and adverse posession claims. I have a friend that worked in BR now Network Rail whoes job is trying to pawn off libility issues on bridges and structures unspecting Councils

 

The arrangement in the UK was much better Councils got first refusal on closed lines relieved the railway of its liabilities and either converted the lines to footpaths or leased them to Preservation Societies.

[Riversuir226]

Ah this explains the modern IE signs on bridges on the old Dungarvan and New Ross lines.

In the past parcels of the alignment of closed lines were sold to adjoining landowners at very attractive prices, this definetly happened on the cbscr between 1962 and 1966.

[minister_for_hardship]

The Listowel town counciller has a farm on the route, quelle surprise.

 

The North Kerry was never sold off in the same (hurried) fashion as the West Cork, it's still owned by CIE to this day, likewise W.ford-Ballinacourty/New Ross.

There is a walkway/cycleway (the Great Southern Trail) developed from Ardagh through to Newcastle West and currently ends around Abbeyfeale, walked a bit of it recently around NCW, quite well done and a great leisure/tourism asset. The only major structures on the route are a large steel bridge outside NCW (a team from Irish Rail did some repairs on it a few years ago) and Barnagh tunnel.

[Tarabuses]

The Listowel town counciller has a farm on the route, quelle surprise.

 

The North Kerry was never sold off in the same (hurried) fashion as the West Cork, it's still owned by CIE to this day, likewise W.ford-Ballinacourty/New Ross.

There is a walkway/cycleway (the Great Southern Trail) developed from Ardagh through to Newcastle West and currently ends around Abbeyfeale, walked a bit of it recently around NCW, quite well done and a great leisure/tourism asset. The only major structures on the route are a large steel bridge outside NCW (a team from Irish Rail did some repairs on it a few years ago) and Barnagh tunnel.

 

And here was me thinking he was opposed to the walkway because he wanted the railway reopened:confused:

[minister_for_hardship]

And here was me thinking he was opposed to the walkway because he wanted the railway reopened:confused:

 

This is Kerry/Bull McCabe country we're talking about here!

[Mayner]

This is Kerry/Bull McCabe country we're talking about here!

 

Funnily enough a cycleway at the Tralee end out to Fenit and Listowel would probably have greater money making potential with greater tourist numbers and than West Limerick. Mind you Listowel built a bye pass on the trackbed, while the route was safeguarded through Rathkeale.

[irishrail201]

The fenit line (although still classified as open!!!) I d love to see IE officials proving its still open with 077 running out to fenit perhaps

 

I agree with a lot of the comments, one person can upset the whole desert so to speak.

[Weshty]

I cycled from NCW to Abbeyfeale and back again on Tuesday evening on the GST. Awesome, though my knees were well tired on the way back.

Roadcycling this is not, what with gravelly track and mountainbike tyres. It is a gem of a route, particularly around the Barnagh.

 

The current debacle is a disgrace and nothing short of a concerted landgrab via squatters rights. CIE need to fight this every step of the way.

[jhb171achill]

Totally agree. I cannot understand why CIE don't just send these landgrabbers a nasty legal letter; given that they are 101% in the right, that should not be difficult.