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Rail Network Expansion

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2018

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Questions (90)

Shane Cassells

Question:

90. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the inclusion of the Navan rail line under the Government's capital plan will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7500/18]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the Navan Rail Link Project was originally included under the Transport 21 Initiative and was to be developed in two Phases.  

Phase 1 comprised the Dunboyne Rail Line project which involved the reopening of 7.5km of a railway line running off the Maynooth line, at Clonsilla, to the M3 interchange at Pace, near Dunboyne.  This line opened in September 2010 with Park and Ride facilities at Pace, with 1200 car parking spaces available, and at Dunboyne, with 300 car parking spaces available.  Phase 1 was completed in 2013 with the opening of Hansfield Station.

The plan for Phase 2 involved the extension of the Dunboyne Line between Clonsilla and M3 Parkway Station, onwards to north Navan.  This development together with a number of other transport projects was postponed in 2011 due to the economic and fiscal crisis.

The National Transport Authority (NTA), which has statutory responsibility for development of Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) which includes County Meath, included an examination of the Navan to City Centre Rail Corridor in the preparation of its Transport Strategy for the GDA for the period 2016-2035.  At that time, the NTA concluded that, based on population and employment forecasts, the level of travel demand between Navan, Dunshaughlin and various stations to the city centre was insufficient to justify the development of a high-capacity rail link. Instead it is proposed that an enhanced bus service would be provided along the corridor in conjunction with the development of a bus hub by the local authority in Navan. 

The NTA has indicated that this position will be kept under review and will be reassessed as part of the next review of the GDA Transport Strategy which, under the relevant legislation, the NTA is required to undertake every six years. The next review planned for 2021 will take account of the level of development in the catchment area over the coming years. Furthermore, the NTA has also indicated that the corridor identified for a rail link to Navan should be protected from development intrusion in the meantime. If the review of the GDA Transport Strategy concludes that a rail link is justified at that point, funding can be pursued in the context of the development and review of Capital Investment Plans. 

Question No. 91 answered with Question No. 58.
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