Scoping study published - insufficient funds for Navan

[Navan Junction]

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

The Navan railway is becoming very political and very quickly.

Ok, I hear ye on that. I've always given out that politics shouldn't have a place in infrastructure provision. (At least not in the Jackie Healy-Rae Kerry tarmacing manner).

But even if it does get the nod doesn't mean it's not worth doing. Kick the politics if that happens, not the project

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

Its background in terms of promises and financial/economic viability is very similar if not identical to the WRC.

Hmmm. Maybe, maybe not. Look at the only facts we have, from this report. 5,300 each way not including passengers from Pace and Dunboyne.

Originally Posted by Derek Wheeler

Furthermore, demoting a man for saying this, while the same man and many of his colleagues have poured many doubts on more "economically viable" projects like the PPT, Sunday services through it from Kildare etc etc, strikes me as an act that was deemed by the DOT as too close to the political bone.

Again fair enough. PPT, Kildare on Sundays etc. But you have to remember that Navan became "subject to further studies" on the IÉ website ages ago and Dick Fearn commented that the line "could be extended to Navan eventually" in a railway magazine in 2006 and no hackles were raised.

I really think the issue was publicising the cost of a Transport 21 project, saying that there was insufficient funding and also saying that a project that IÉ would not be footing the bill for was not financially viable.

By giving out the T21 figure (through deduction), by saying the T21 budget was inadaquate and innaccurate and by being seen to have taken a decision which really rested with the Department of Transport was the problem.

I disagree with you that it is a Meath thing. The levy issue is a Meath County Council thing, the Minister is from Meath but the Transport 21 thing in relation to hidden costings is a nationwide matter which just happened to come to a head in Meath.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Navan Junction

By giving out the T21 figure (through deduction), by saying the T21 budget was inadaquate and innaccurate

Well this is one of the points I've been making since T21 launched. There is no publicly available list of projects, timetables, costs or specifications. It is:

"Railway to Navan" instead of:

"Railway to Navan, double track with stations at ..........; park & ride at ........: to commence construction in ..... and to open to the public in .....; operations with diesel railcars"

[Navan Junction]

Bingo.

Now apply that to every project in T21 and now you have the problem

It wasn't the boot into Navan. It was the boot into Transport 21

[Derek Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Navan Junction

Bingo.

Now apply that to every project in T21 and now you have the problem

It wasn't the boot into Navan. It was the boot into Transport 21

Tom Finn only looked after IE projects within T21. So lets not concern ourselves with the bigger picture for now.I guess your crapping yourself in case Finn lost his job over Navan. If he did (and it looks like that according to media reports) then the Navan project is well and truly shrouded in political muck. IEs statement on the matter, which ran in yesterdays Sunday Indo, is yet more evidence. It reads like a DOT rep stood over Barry Kennys head with a gun. Here it is in all its glory.

Iarnrod Eireann's scoping study and our presentation to Meath County Council, both stated that the Navan to Dunboyne line is economically viable - this is the only criteria that matters when evaluating transport projects, be they rail, road or other public transport.
Iarnrod Eireann's study therefore supports the development of the Navan line. The key issue for all such projects is that the economic benefits - in terms of time saving for citizens, reduced congestion, environmental benefits and reduced road accidents amongst others - justify the investment.
Our consultants report clearly states that the Navan rail line development meets and exceeds the Department of Finance's criteria in this regard, and that it is an economically viable project, as advised to Meath County Council last week.
As stated to the council at last weeks meeting, Iarnrod Eireann intends to progress this Transport 21 project with the Department of Transport and to develop the full preliminary design and business case in accordance with the processes for new capital projects.

Finn wasn't available for comment and was said to be on annual leave.

Now most here know that I am a huge advocater of the Navan line. I havent changed my mind. But if it becomes a political hot potatoe, I believe that it can turn into another WRC. Its just another symptom of political interference screwing up the order and merit of rail projects. If that continues to gain momentum, then Navan will develop many enemies. Remember its getting a new motorway. Combined with a railway, we could be looking at a total investment of nearly 1 billion on what is a very short corridor. If that even remotely looks like happening at the expense of another project in the GDA, then there may be a public backlash. We need more clarity from Government and not empty statements. The Tom Finn situation is very alarming. He may know more than we give him credit for and he may have paid the price.

[Colm Moore]

Minister was in Navan today, launching a bus service that started on 16December 2007. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055201420

Originally Posted by Navan Junction

Now apply that to every project in T21 and now you have the problem

Or the solution.

[Navan Junction]

Bus Éireann Launches New Direct Service Linking
Navan, Dublin Airport & DCU under Transport 21

Monday January 21st 2008

Bus Éireann will today launch the first new service in the Eastern region under Transport 21 – the new 109A service connection Navan with Dublin Airport and Dublin City University.

The new service will be officially launched by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey TD and Bus Éireann Chief Executive, Tim Hayes at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan at 14.30hrs.

The service operates hourly in both directions with a total of 34 daily departures seven days a week.

Bus Éireann spokesperson Erica Roseingrave said: “Under Transport 21, Bus Éireann is introducing around 235 new vehicles into the fleet. These new vehicles will enable us to improve existing services for our customers, and to introduce new services, such as this one for which there is strong local demand.”

The service provides a direct and frequent connection between Navan, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Dublin Airport and DCU.

She stated: “By providing a direct and frequent link between Dublin Airport and Navan, the new service will broaden access to historic Co Meath and open it up to new tourism opportunities. It will improve practical access for students to DCU, making going to College easier and more affordable. For commuters, working in the College or Airport campus, it means they can now reduce their carbon footprint by availing of public transport to get to and from their workplace. Holiday makers can leave their cars at home and take the green option to the airport and in doing so, avoid parking charges.”


She added: “So far, take-up of the service has been very good. It has proved popular with people going to the airport, whether to catch flights or for work (approximately 4,000 people work on the airport campus) as well as students going to college. A direct, frequent and affordable service like this encourages people to leave their cars at home and get onto public transport, which is our main aim.”

The earliest service from Navan departs at 05.00hrs with departures operating until 21.00hrs. Services from Dublin Airport to Navan operate from 06.20hrs until 22.20hrs.


The service is operated by new, high specification, wheelchair accessible single deck commuter coaches, which have been introduced into the Bus Éireann fleet under Transport 21.


Fares from Navan to Dublin Airport/DCU Fares are as follows:

Adult Single/Return €10.30/€13.70
Student Single/Day Return €8.10/ €13.10


A host of new and improved services will be introduced by Bus Éireann in Co Meath this year. Service improvements due in 2008 include:

• A new 15 minute all day frequency on the 109 Navan Dunshaughlin Dublin route
• A range of service improvements for Ratoath, Ashbourne and Duleek
• Expansion of the Navan - Drogheda service to serve Trim, with more daily services.
• Timetable improvements on the Athboy, Trim Dublin service, including additional later services.

[Navan Junction]

This weeks Meath Chronicle

Wrong route with railway

(Editor, Meath Chronicle)

Dear sirs - So a senior Iarnrod Eireann manager has been removed from his post following his expressions of concern around the financial viability of reopening the railway from Pace to Navan (Meath Chronicle 19th Jan). Surely the real question however is why the group tasked with producing this report failed to recommend a route which could add in excess of 60 per cent to the catchment population of the line and so increase its viability. I`m speaking of the area to the east of the original alignment in South Meath, in particular the towns of Ratoath and Ashbourne. The combined population of these towns in the 2006 census was 15,777 persons in comparison to the 24,851 of Navan. With all public transport projects one of the primary concerns to the Department of Finance is not only the initial capital cost but the ongoing subvention levels required. In order to minimise that subvention it is necessary to maximise the railway`s catchment. If the railway is not to serve this area then it is difficult to see how it can be justified. Indeed a cheaper and more expedient solution using the freight-only branch from Drogheda should perhaps be re-examined.

Yours,
Mark Healy,
Alderbrook Heath,
Ashbourne.

[Navan Junction]

Originally Posted by Meath Chronicle

Indeed a cheaper and more expedient solution using the freight-only branch from Drogheda

Who knows, might well come back to this at some point

But god knows IÉ are no more interested in this than the direct option

[Mark Gleeson]

As the reported showed demand from Navan is very sensitive extra 10 minutes would seriously impact numbers

The 55+ million extra of course kills it as there isnt enough for the direct route anyway

[Derek Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Victor

Minister was in Navan today, launching a bus service that started on 16December 2007. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055201420

Or the solution.

Yeah. The solution to the problem. But that cannot and will not happen without an independent non politically affiliated transport authority for the GDA.

[Navan Junction]

Olivia Kelly, Irish Times, Tue, Jan 22, 2008

An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for an industrial estate beside the new M3 motorway near Dunboyne, Co Meath, on the grounds that it would damage plans for the Dublin-Meath rail link and constitute an "unsustainable car dependent development".

Meath county councillors last June voted unanimously to rezone the land for the 42-acre industrial /business estate, in contravention of their own development plan. The application for 32 offices, light industrial and warehousing units by Royal Gateway Holding Ltd, was subsequently granted planning permission by the council but was appealed by An Taisce to An Bord Pleanála.

In its ruling, the board said that the development contravened both national and regional policies and was contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The development site was 1km north of a proposed railway station and park-and-ride facility and would be "prejudicial" to the development of a plan for the use of the land surrounding the major rail project. The site would be accessed by a link road to the M3 which forms an "integral part of the regional road and motorway system".

Additional traffic caused by the development would "interfere with the free-flow of traffic and the carrying capacity" of the road and thus "fail to protect public investment in the national road network", the planning board said.

"It is considered that the proposed development, which would be principally dependent on private car, would lead to the creation of an unsustainable car dependent development."

© 2008 The Irish Times

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Navan Junction

An Bord Pleanála has refused permission ..... Dunboyne, Co Meath .... rail link ...

I shouldn't speed read.