The green light has been given for Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) to upgrade or replace seven manned crossings on a 24km (15-mile) stretch of the Dublin to Cork line between Limerick Junction and Mallow.
The plans, submitted in May 2021, were signed off by An Bord Pleanála on July 7 and will enhance safety and allow higher speeds
Six crossings - at Fantstown, Thomastown, Newtown, Ballycoskery, Shinanagh and Buttevant - will be replaced by bridges, with local roads diverted. The seventh, at Ballyhay, will entail the installation of a 4-barrier CCTV-controlled level crossing. Alongside Grange, it will be the only other crossing remaining.
Concerns have been raised by the length of time it is taking An Bord Pleanála to process railway orders.
Mark Gleeson, a spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland, said: “Over 37 months passed from submission of the draft order until approval for what is a relatively straightforward project. This raises concern as to the ability of An Bord Pleanála to handle cases in a timely fashion.”
The Irish Government also recognises that there are significant delays in the planning process for major infrastructure projects, and has introduced a Planning and Development Bill with measures imposed to require decisions within 18 weeks.
A longer timeline of 48 weeks for complex projects such as railway orders has been catered for in the bill. Failure to keep to the timelines will result in fines for the planning authority.
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