Cycleway would mean end of the line for Mullingar-Athlone trains

If the Mullingar to Athlone railway line is developed into a cycle route it will never be reopened again, according to Labour councillors.

Councillors were recently informed that Westmeath County Council will have responsibility for constructing a section of new, government-backed Dublin to Galway cycle route from Maynooth to west of the Shannon.

The council’s preferred route is along the Royal Canal from Maynooth to Ballinea and then along the old railway line from Ballinea to Athlone.

It has received funding of €750,000 to compete the design and route selection.

The news received a mixed response from councillors, many of whom warned that it would quash any lingering hopes of the Mullingar to Athlone railway line ever reopening.

Cllr Mick Dollard said the news would not go down well with the people of Mullingar, who would prefer if it was linked by rail to its “sister” town.

He added that if “major capital investment” is put into the development of a cycleway from Ballinea to Athlone, “it will never be a railway line again”.

His party colleague Cllr Denis Leonard, who has long been a vocal campaigner for the reopening of the line, said future generations will view this as one of the “worst decisions” ever made by Westmeath County Council.

If the council wants to build a cycleway, it should do so along the old N6, which would provide an economic boost for towns such as Kilbeggan and Rochfortbridge, he thought.

Not every councillor opposed the plan. Fine Gael’s Peter Burke said the proposal has “huge economic potential” for the Mullingar area. He also noted that if the Mullingar to Athlone railway line wasn’t reinstated during the boom when there was “a window of opportunity” to do so, it won’t be done now.

Defending the council’s decision, director of services Dave Hogan said the Mullingar-Athlone line fared badly in Irish Rail’s appraisal for potential lines to reopen and that the cycleway will protect a permanent way and “prevent third parties laying claims”.

He also outlined the potential tourism benefits for the towns and villages along the cycleway.