Navan Rail link - Phase 2

[iblinfotech1]

I have seen the full draft railway works order.

[Goods]

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/r...pen-next-year/
Looks as if the reality of commuting into Dublin is recognized in govt and the review of the Navan railway corridor is timely. It’s a no brainer that this dormitory town should be linked by rail to Dublin. Just do it.

[Goods]

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/r...line-reopened/

[James Shields]

Originally Posted by Goods

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/r...line-reopened/

I've walked along sections of the Kingscourt line, and it's pretty much intact, but heavily overgrown in a lot of places. It has quite a few level crossings, so they would need to be rebuilt and automated or converted to bridges. There's not much between Navan and Kingscourt, and the town of Kingscourt is pretty small, and the station is about a kilometre from the town centre. I doubt there is enough population in the area to support the line, and people from Cavan town would be more likely to drive to Edgeworthstown on a better road and getting a more frequent service than the Kingscourt line could ever support.

[comcor]

Whatever about Navan, I'm guessing a reopening to Kingscourt only makes sense if the population of Kingscourt and Nobber surges into the 10K-15K range when they are currently around 2.5K and 1K respectively.

Now, considering what we have seen in Louth and Meath in the last few decades, that's not impossible, especially if they get designated as growth zones, but has anyone consulted with the locals on whether they would prefer the railway to remain shut or explosive population growth in their towns.

[Traincustomer]

In the very unlikely event that the line to Kingscourt reopened I believe it would serve as a railhead for the broader area rather than just serving Nobber and Kingscourt per se.

Bailieborough (c. 2.7K), Carrickmacross (c. 5K) and Shercock (c. 600) are towns in the near vicinity to Kingscourt.

Of course thanks to the strike at the turn of this century the line ceased to carry freight which would have strengthened the case.

Small villages and hamlets along the route such as Wilkinstown and Castletown KP could be targeted for development but, as has been mentioned on this forum before, is this model of long distance commuting to Dublin sustainable?

[Goods]

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/poli...ance-1.4155424

The lobby meeting on reopening the railway infrastructure around Navan is long overdue. Such a network could never be built today this is a national asset that can be used to reduce traffic into Dublin and ease the lot of commuters who begin their train journey from M3 parkway station instead of Navan - just do it!

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by iblinfotech1

I have seen the full draft railway works order.

So have we, it was never published but was left on a table during a public consultation meeting, given it is now 10+ years a free document would need to be prepared.

The estimated cost was on the front page which they tried to hide very quickly when we took a photo.