It’s a “no brainer” that a footbridge should be constructed to link the rail and bus stations in Killarney, it has been claimed.
The stations are virtually adjacent but passengers are required to walk a distance from one to the other and it can be very testing if they are carrying luggage.
Raising the matter, Cllr Michael Cahill said the walk is also a major inconvenience for people with a disability, senior citizens, parents with buggies and those with small children.
“Both terminals are practically side by side in Killarney. A footbridge connecting them is logical.
“I really think, in this instance, they are making a laugh of the people who, by the way, they are supposed to be serving,” Cllr Cahill stated.
Cllr Cahill used the offices of Senator Gerry Horkan to propose the development at an Oireachtas Transport Committee meeting with representatives from Iarnród Éireann.
“Iarnród Éireann, in reply, said it has prioritised other accessibility projects elsewhere. Killarney and Kerry seem to have been designated second best by them,” Cllr Cahill complained.
He said a connecting footbridge should have been put in place years ago as it is a total inconvenience to all rail and bus users and a deterrent from using the service.
“This is a no brainer. Killarney is the busiest tourist town in Ireland and I firmly believe locals and visitors alike should be accommodated with this facility,” he said.
Iarnród Éireann, in response to representations from Cllr Cahill, said while there would be an estimated time saving of four to six minutes per passenger transfer, in the context of the wider accessibility upgrade investment in a limited funding environment, the company has prioritised other accessibility projects around the network.
“The matter was forwarded to the National Transport Authority for final decision on funding and implementation, and it has not, to date, been included in funding allocations,” the company added.
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