The two TDs stood outside navan shopping centre on September 4th updating people on the Navan rail line campaign.
“There is political support across the board,” Deputy Darren O’Rourke said on the Dublin to Navan rail line. “I believe the economic argument and the environmental argument is very strong and the social argument is without comparison.”
An assessment study into the feasibility of extending railway line to Navan approaching its closing phase with the results expected to influence the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin area. a draft of the updated Transport Strategy expected to be published in the coming months for public consultation, most likely in late September.
Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade has announced that he is more than willing to begin work on the project once Irish Rail have plans to do so.
“If funding is made available we can deliver in three years, from start to finish,” Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Mr Meade said. “All we are waiting for is clarity. It is a case of if and when they want to build it.”
The planning will be done by the National Transport Authority, and funding supplied by the Department of Transport if the rail line is being extended.
Meath is the only county in Ireland where more people commute outside of the county then stay in the county for work. Meath East is filled with feeder towns leading to Dublin, but the closest train station for many is in Dunboyne with no links to Navan or other large towns in the area.
Environmental costs of this are also staggering with 30,000 commuters travelling to work by car with no reasonable alternative as the buses are notorious for being late.
Jim Meade is eager to expand and improve the rail infrastructure across the country, along with proposals which included potential extension of the rail line from Dublin to Navan. Dunshaughlin is likely to benefit from this with a proposed train stop in the local area. Both Dunshaughlin and Ratoath, only a few minutes’ drive away, are feeder towns that require better transport links for their growing populations.
A public demonstration organised by the Meath on Track campaign is taking place on 18th September in Navan.
Meath South East News 