Locals at 'wits' end in wait for lift at Kilkenny train station

Green Party councillor and deputy mayor of the city Maria Dollard has slammed the CIE and Irish Rail for their continued failure to operate a lift, intended to support older people and those with additional needs accessing the station.

The non-operational lift, installed in 2007, is estimated to have cost in the region of €100,000 but has never been in use, leaving many people with no choice but to walk up a steep ramp instead. 

The land MacDonagh Junction is built on is owned by two entities; Kilkenny County Council and CIE. The lift causing issues is on the section of land owned by CIE and is therefore the responsibility of CIE. 

"All I can say is the lack of a response from Irish Rail has been nothing short of stonewalling," Cllr Dollard told Friday’s Kilkenny City Municipal District meeting.

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"They refuse to take any responsibility for the lift,” she said. They’re denying they have any role in its operation. The response that I’ve gotten from Irish Rail is that they consider the so-called age-friendly access to the shopping centre as sufficient for wheelchair users to access the train station, which is their official line on this.

"They obviously haven't spoken to any wheelchair users because any wheelchair user would say going across paved, rough area as you would have to do is not a suitable service," she argued.

"The fact they are completely stonewalling this issue means they are denying people who need to have access to the train station an easy way to get there. You could not pass two wheelchairs or two buggies on that path up to the train station.

Cllr Dollard asked the county council to review the access certificate.

“We’re at our wits' end. The Kilkenny Access Group are so frustrated to think, sitting there is a lift shaft that could be used and they’re being denied a very simple thing to get access to public transport.

"I would like Kilkenny County Council to take responsibility for addressing this,” the local Green Party representative concluded.

The motion received widespread support from city councillors. Seconded by Cllr Eugene McGuinness, the Independent commented: "If it (the lift) was part of the planning, they (CIE and Irish Rail) should be prosecuted,” adding, "the only people who have been shafted are the people of Kilkenny."

A spokesperson for Kilkenny County Council said they would seek clarification on the matter.

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