Woodlawn protest over non-stop Dublin-Galway train

CAMPAIGNERS demanding a better train service at Woodlawn Station have vowed to step up their efforts following a protest meeting on Monday morning at the station, which was attended by 200 people.[private] Warnings have been issued that further protests could include blocking the Galway-Dublin rail line. However, a spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said, following the protest, that the company had no intention of changing their schedule. The protest is over a new timetable to be issued in early May by Iarnród Éireann, which does not include an extra morning stop of the Galway to Dublin train. Currently, the train only stops in Woodlawn at 5.15 am and 3.46 pm. Local campaigners say this service is useless for those who wish to travel to Dublin on business or to Ballinasloe or Athlone. Three morning trains pass through Woodlawn without stopping. The Woodlawn Heritage group, which is organising the protest, say they were given an assurance by the company that an additional stop would be added to the schedule. The  action group is demanding that Iarnród Éireann allows the 7.35am train from Galway to Dublin to pick up passengers at Woodlawn. They argue that at a time when the Government is trying to encourage more people to use rail travel, everything possible should be done to facilitate passengers. This can't be done if trains don't stop to pick up passengers, a spokesperson said.[/private]