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Proposed light rail developments for Galway City

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Galway Light Rail
Overview
LocaleGalway City
Transit typeTram (or Light rail)
Number of linesNone (1 proposed)

Since the early 2000s, a number of proposals have been made by politicians and interest groups in Galway to introduce a light rail system in the city. No light rail proposal for the city has received any government support to date.[1]

Proposals

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Corrib Light Rail (2006)

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A light rail proposal, made in early 2006, was dubbed the Corrib Light Rail.[2][3][4] In mid-2006, the then Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, stated that the Galway Transportation and Planning Study did not "envisage light rail measures such as those outlined in the Corrib Light Rail submission".[5] The proposal was not progressed.

Gluas (2008)

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Gluas (the Irish word for "movement", and a pun on "Galway" + "Luas") was a proposed tram or light rail system for Galway city, similar to the Luas found in Dublin.[1] Proposed by a Galway-based lobby group,[1] it included three possible routes:[6]

  • Line 1: Ballybrit -> Mervue -> Wellpark -> Eyre Square -> Nun's Island -> Newcastle -> Dangan -> Rahoon
  • Line 2: Eyre Square -> Newcastle -> Shantalla -> Taylors Hill -> Barna
  • Line 3: Murrouoh -> Renmore -> Wellpark -> Terryland -> Newcastle -> Shantalla -> Taylors Hill

A fourth line was also proposed:

  • Line 4: Eyre Square -> Claddagh -> Salthill -> Knocknacarra[7][6]

The three-line proposal, projected the construction of 64 stations, with park and ride facilities at Knocknacarra and Dangan.[8] At the time the project was proposed, in June 2008, it was suggested that it could be completed within three years.

The project's supporters appealed to Galway City Council to consider funding the project in 2015,[9] and again in 2017.[10][1] The project was not progressed.

Gluas (2021)

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In April 2021, the Gluas Group held a webinar in which Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announced a feasibility study on light rail for 2022.[11] A feasibility study, commissioned by the National Transport Authority and published in October 2024, found that there was a case for constructing a fifteen-kilometre light rail line from Roscam to Knocknacarra via Eyre Square and University Hospital Galway. The study included options involving both conventional Light Railway Transit and Very Light Rail.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Siggins, Lorna (8 January 2018). "A Gluas for Galway? Light rail project campaign revived". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Draft rail strategy suggests need for Luas lines in regional cities". The Irish Times. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  3. ^ "In Short:'Luas' network plan for Galway". The Irish Times. 15 March 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Higgins calls for regional transport planning in Galway". The Irish Times. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 13 Jun 2006 - Vol. 621 No. 4 - Written Answers". oireachtas.ie. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b Whelan, Caroline (6 August 2015). "Light rail group outline their unhappiness with bypass proposals". Galway Advertiser. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015.
  7. ^ "GLUAS – Light Rail for Galway". Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2018 – via Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ "Ambitious plan to give Galway its own 'Gluas' trams". Irish Independent. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. ^ Bradley, Dara (7 August 2015). "Backers of GLUAS proposal ask Council to reconsider plan". Connacht Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  10. ^ Andrews, Kernan (23 November 2017). "Traffic congestion will worsen until city develops a light rail system, warns Connolly". Galway Advertiser. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Galway Very Light Rail Webinar April 2021". Niall Ó Brolcháin, Gluas group. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ McGee, Harry. "Feasibility study identifies a case for light railway transit in Galway". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  13. ^ https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2024/1031/1478322-galway-luas/
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