Rabbitte criticises decision to close Cherry Orchard Rail Station

The Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, has criticised plans to close the Cherry Orchard rail station in Ballyfermot and has urged the Minister for Transport and the Dublin Transport Office (DTO) to review the plan which he said would seriously inconvenience commuters from the Ballyfermot area.

"The Kildare Route project, which involves upgrading the line from Heuston Station, is designed to enhance rail services between the city centre and the suburbs. However, it seems extraordinary that Ballyfermot is going to be the only area to actually lose a station as a result of this development.

"Ballyfermot is one of the biggest suburbs in Dublin. It has high public transport dependency levels and a poor bus service. Already an old platform/station has been ripped out at Sarsfield Road and now it is proposed to close down the station at Cherry Orchard.

"The proposed new station at Park West will not be adequate to meet the needs of people from Ballyfermot who wish to travel by train.

"I am now calling for a review of this decision. If the Cherry Orchard station is closed it is unlikely that an opportunity to re-open it will arise for many years."