Navan Railway Line

Slippin Jimmy

I was talking to someone I know very well and they were saying that they heard that the work was going to take place on the Navan line next year. Is this true, or is it just a rumour? Is there any plans for the line at all?

NavanJunction1

The first Phase to Dunboyne is due for completion by 2009. Phase one, despite the fanfare is only a four mile stretch of the original allignment.

The remaining 22 miles to Navan (Phase 2) are scheduled for 2015 under Transport 21. This is unfortunate as the entire line was built in less than 3 years in 1859-62 using picks and shovels.

Much of that allignment still remains, so why it must take 10 years now is mystery, considering the N3 (in Blanch in particular) is frequently gridlocked.

It is estimated that a full reopening would take 4,000 cars off the N3, which could only be good news.

Unfortunately, at this rate Dunboyne will be reached by 2009, but Navan could be reached by 2011 if the political will was there.

The work this year and next will be design.

MarkoP11

No physical work can commence without a railway works order. There is an outside possibility that the works order for the first 4.7 miles from Clonsilla to beyond Dunboyne may be ready in time for some work to start in 2007

There is a line on a map but on the ground even Meath CC have laid a sewer main along part of the line (spot the manhole above), they lied about it and finally admitted it

The Dunboyne to Navan section has been put on the long finger for reasons unknown (Keep the M3 toll operator happy ?) The powers that be have decided to waste 6 months and taxpayers money on a new line survey despite the fact one already exists, Irish Rail did one in the recent past



http://www.meathontrack.com
http://www.platform11.org/campaigns/navan/

NavanJunction1

MarkoP11 wrote:

The powers that be have decided to waste 6 months and taxpayers money on a new line survey despite the fact one already exists, Irish Rail did one in the recent past.

Probably election related so photos can be taken of sod turning etc the week before the poll

MarkoP11 wrote:

The Dunboyne to Navan section has been put on the long finger for reasons unknown (Keep the M3 toll operator happy ?)

M3 tolling arrangements were/are probably the biggest risk to the line unfortunately, though no longer terminal as it seemed to be at one stage when the allignmnent was to blocked by the M3 at Cannistown.. No good reason why it should take to 2015.

As things stand, commuters travelling from say Kells will have to pay 2 tolls each way one north of Navan, another at Fairyhouse/Trim (Blackbull) junction. In these circumstances, Dunboyne is not likely to be of much use as a P&R facility as M3 commuters will have to pay up to 4 tolls each day to use it. I'll breath a sigh of relief when construction starts on Phase 2 because the railway to Navan would be percived by the tolling operator as a massive threat to the tolling arrangements on the M3, and you can be sure they won't want it.

That is why the will to deliver the line to Navan on the part of the government is questionable - do you think the line being planned only as far as the second M3 toll at Pace happened by accident?!