The objective is to introduce the Republic of Ireland to the concept of Community Rail Partnerships, a proven method of building passenger numbers on rural rail services and improving service speed and frequency. Key speakers include Minister Alan Kelly and Dr Paul Salveson, formerly of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.
The conference organizers are the Nenagh Rail Partnership, a local user group and Ireland's only members of ACoRP. Any profits from the event will be used to promote and support the Limerick-Nenagh-Ballybrophy line. The full three-day programme is aimed mainly at city and county councillors but there is also a one-day registration option for the Saturday, which includes all the most important elements of the conference.
With a number of Ireland's remaining railway lines running at a loss and at least two under threat of closure, we urge you to attend if you can and also to forward this email to anyone else who might be interested.
The conference programme is below.
Best regards
Duncan J Martin (Dr)
Treasurer
Nenagh Rail Partnership
086 8377 906
Conference:
Reviving Rural Rail
Sustainable Tourism > More visitors by train
More Visitors > More income for the local line and for local businesses
More income for the local line > Better rail services in future
Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary
Friday 17th – Sunday 19th June 2011.
Theme
Ireland's rural railway lines should be actively promoted as a means of bringing more visitors to the areas they serve, including overseas tourists. They could give the communities they serve a valuable advantage in competing for business. This conference will show how.
What kind of visitors might be attracted?
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Overseas visitors based in the capital without a car
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Visitors looking for the real Ireland, rather than the usual tourist honey pots
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Visitors looking for sustainable transport options
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Families and visitors for whom rail travel is a novelty
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Dubliners who do not own a car, including many young professionals
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Walkers and cyclists.
Such visitors can build their schedules around existing rail timetables and can make a valuable contribution to passenger numbers and ticket receipts. This in turn helps to make the case for improved services – which in turn attract more passengers, in both directions.
This is a proven method of reviving rural rail services. It works best when all elements of the local community work with the railway company to promote and market the line in a Community Rail Partnership. This the key to success.
Our opening speaker on Saturday, who founded the UK-based Association of Community Rail Partnerships, will focus on this aspect. (See www.acorp.uk.com for some success stories.) Other speakers will cover a range of complementary approaches to developing rail-based tourism.
Note. The seminar organisers reserve the right to change any of the details
of this programme to facilitate the safe and efficient running of this event.
Programme: Reviving Rural Rail
Friday 17th June 2011
6.00 pm: Registration (to 8.00pm)
8.00 pm: Official Opening, Mr. Alan Kelly, Junior Minister for Public and Commuter Transport
8.15 pm: Conference Dinner
Keynote speaker after dinner: Mr. Don Cunningham, Director, New Works, Irish Rail
Saturday 18th June 2011
09.30 am: Registration
10.00 am: Dr. Paul Salveson, 'The Train Doctor' : Community Rail Partnerships
Dr Salveson established the Association of Community Rail Partnerships in the UK in the mid-1990s and helped formulate the Community Rail Development Strategy supported by the UK Government and rail industry. He now works as an independent consultant and writer.
10.45 am: Tea/Coffee
11.00 am: Mr. Joe McGrath, North Tipperary County Manager
The Importance of the Ballybrophy Line to the Infrastructure in the Region
11.25 am: Ms Lorraine Grainger, Tourism consultant, Towards Sustainable Rural Tourism.
Lorraine Grainger's career in tourism and travel spans some 25 years. She works with destinations, communities and with small tourism suppliers. She is an overseas sales advisor for Failte Ireland's new Sales Connect programme.
11.45 am: Mr. Jim Deegan, Manager, Rail Tours Ireland
The Authentic Ireland Experience Through Rail Travel
12.00 am: Mr. John G O'Dwyer, Travel Writer
Developing Loop Walks and Cycle Routes from Station to Station
12.30 pm: Lunch
1.30 pm: Rail Tours Ireland bus trip to Castleconnell via Dromineer, Portroe, Ballina / Killaloe, O'Brien's Bridge, with on board commentary and stops at:
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Lough Derg Yacht Club, Dromineer: speakers: Declan Collison, walks and adventure holidays organiser; Liam Maloney, Commodore, Lough Derg Yact Club
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Portroe: brief stop at Viewing Point overlooking Lough Derg
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Ballina / Killaloe: No stop. On board commentary on what is in the area with reference to Birdhill railway station
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O'Brien's Bridge: No stop. Briefing on River Shannon walk to Limerick / Ardnacrusha
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Castleconnell: Fly-fishing demonstration with Pat O'Connor, Castleconnell Fisheries Group; see salmon beats and walking trail link to Clare; visit Paddy Guerin's old world fishing bar
5.05 pm: return to Nenagh by train from Castleconnell
5.40 pm: arrive Nenagh railway station. Evening free to sample Nenagh hospitality.
Sunday 19th June 2011
10.00 am: Guided historical walk of Nenagh OR tour of Ecovillage in Cloughjordan
(Both to be booked by 6pm on Saturday).
11.00 am: Conference close
Seminar Fee:
3-day registration (incl conference dinner, Saturday lunch & afternoon tour): €170
1-day registration for Saturday (incl lunch & afternoon tour): €50
Bookings:
Enquiries and bookings for the Seminar may be made through:
Dr. Duncan Martin
Treasurer, Nenagh Rail Partnership
c/o 24 Townsfield, Cloughjordan, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Tel 0505 42087 (Mobile 086 8377 906)
Email: duncanjmartin@eircom.net
Accommodation:
Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh: ph 067-41111 / www.abbeycourt.ie
Williamsferry B&B: ph 067-31118 / www.williamsferry.com
Willowbrook B&B: ph 067-31558 / www.willowbrook.ie
Abbey View B&B: ph 067-41554 / www.abbeyview.ie
Avondale B&B: ph 067-31084 / gay.mcauliffe@oceanfree.net
Hibernian Inn: ph 067-31253 / www.hibernianinn.com
Andy's B&B: ph 067-32494 / www.andysnenagh.com
Django's Ecohostel, Cloughjordan Ecovillage: 087 256 9348 / www.djangoshostel.com / pafinucane@gmail.com (Transport to/from Nenagh available)
Travel
Trains from Dublin:
Friday/ Saturday: depart Heuston 0900h, arrive Nenagh 1104h*
Friday/ Saturday: depart Heuston 1725h, arrive Nenagh 1953h*
Trains to Dublin:
Saturday: dep Nenagh 1740h, arrive Heuston 2028h*
Sunday: dep Nenagh 1835h, arrive Heuston 2057h*
*Change at Ballybrophy in both directions
