M3 railway bridge at Cannistown seems to be missing

IIMII

Stroke Politics wrote: »

All development in Navan and environs is developer-led, and they do not like competition, so we can forget about a train that will complete for business with The Sacred Motorway.....

Yes, but interests between the tolling company and the developers converged whilst the M3 was being built.

The developers sold houses on the bases of the road being built, and as there wasn't particularly a widespread awareness of the toll (particularly as Dubliner househunters didn't pass through it to get to Navan to view houses), it wasn't an issue

Now with the road all but completed, the developers couldn't care less about the toll company and the paths are now diverging, particularly as the toll is a big negative when trying to flog houses

DWCommuter

As of today and a few months after the original photos were posted, here is the state of play in relation to the M3.

This first photo is taken from the new flyover at Cannistown looking towards Dublin. As you can see they are already laying tarmacadam.

cannistown1.jpg

In this photo we again see the M3 in relation to the Navan rail alignment. The original railway bridge is on the right of the picture and is in the direction of Navan. No sign of any kind of structure for the railway. It may go over at a later date, but this will require considerably more engineering and tonnes more money than was necessary if the correct and sensible methods had been followed.

cannistown2.jpg

But of course as I said in previous posts the situation is a lot worse than just Cannistown and was completely missed by those in favour of protecting the rail alignment. In this photo we can see how the M3 and its associated roads blatantly blocks the rail alignment from Pace to Navan at the Black Bull area. The road in the foreground is the current road to Trim from the current N3. The embankment in the photo is the new realigned Trim road and is slap bang on top of the rail alignment. Beyond this embankment is the original railway embankment to Navan. Completely blocked? Yes it sure is.

blackbull2.jpg

This is a second view of the Black Bull area. The Trim road embankment completely blocks the original alignment and to the left of the picture it connects up with the current Trim road. (which itself was realigned after the railway closed.) Rerouting the railway here would be costly. No doubt about it. And uneccessary if proper protocol was followed. But then we all know that a railway to Navan was just Fianna Fail bull**** talk.

blackbull1.jpg

This thread should never die as its an inditement to the skullduggery that our Government is involved in. If they can do it in a mickey mouse set up like the fantasy railway to Navan, then they can do it in an area that costs lives. Oh wait they already do that in the health service. QED.

Nostradamus

Sickening.

We al know what Fianna Fail are all about and we have come to expect no less from that shower.

But people also have to remember this happened under the Greens watch as well. They are just a guilty and can no longer ever again claim the high moral ground on public transport after this.


Eamon Ryan, Trevor Sargent and John Gormley

BrianD

Hi, if this is a breach of the planning permission grant, does anybody know if the relevant bodies have been formally notified of the breach for enforcement?

Can anybody post the planning condition that relates to Cannistown so that others can cut and paste it and use it when writing to the relevant politicians and authorities?

DWCommuter

I agree. The Green Party as so called saviours of public transport should be hauled out aswell.

As for the ABP ruling, here it is as posted on page 5 of this thread.

ABP%20copy.jpg

IIMII

Meath Chronicle, 1st October 2008




A Meath County Councillor has appealed to Transpost Minister Noel Dempsey to “lay down the law” to Iarnrod Eireann with regard to progressing the rail link from Pace (Dunboyne) to Navan.
Independent Meath councillor Brian Fitzgerald said Mr Dempsey had to insist that, if Iarnrod Eireann was not going to progress the project, it must be handed over to some other body or consortium.
The minister’s office yesterday (Tuesday) said the position on the rail line to Navan had not changed since a statement Mr Dempsey issued in late July 2008. In response to a question then on whether the link would proceed, the minister had replied “yes”.
As the 14th October budget looms amid reports of extremely harsh cut-backs and threats to capital projects, Cllr Fitzgerald and other Meath councillors called on the Transport Minister to confirm the project’s future.
A progress report on the line was presented to Navan area elected members at their September meeting. Some of the points made were that the project required “significantly greater funding than allowed for in the Transport 21 Budget”.
Also outlined in the report was the emergence of an option to the original 'emerging preferred route’ established for the line. That route follows the pre-existing rail line with local diversions at Black Bull, Drumree, Kilmessan and Cannistown.
The optional route is to the east of Dunshaughlin. This, according to the report presented, was also shown “to have potential to be delivered but was subject to further study to confirm engineering feasibility and cost to a similar level of confidence as was developed for the emerging preferred route”. Consequently, Iarnrod Eireann was selecting consultants for carry out the further study with a time frame of about six to eight months. This study would also examine optimum locations for rail stations, particularly those in Dunshaughlin and Navan.
Cllr Fitzgerald stressed the importance not just to Navan but also Dunshaughlin of proceeding with the link. Should it not go ahead, it would be the county’s greatest “let down” as a number of towns, including Dunshaughlin, were geared up for it to be delivered.
Sinn Fein councillor Joe Reilly said that, for Meath to advance, the rail line was one of the most vital projects and must be provided.
Cllr Jim Holloway of Fine Gael said that serious concern had been raised that the current economic climate could mean that the railway will be delayed. “Any proposal to delay the construction of the railway to Navan must be vigorously opposed,” said Cllr Holloway. “A decision to delay this project is a decision to abandon this project and must be read as such. And delay would mean a betrayal of the people of Meath and Navan, in particular.”
Cllr Holloway added that, essentially what new house-owners who came to Navan and Meath had done was place their trust in Government to deliver jobs and the railway.
Commuting figures showed that the jobs did not come to Navan as promised, he said. Also, the railway had been put to the bottom of the list of projects in Transport 21. The delay in finalising the route was “clearly a device for abandoning the railway to Navan town”, he claimed.
In relation to the extension of the line to Navan, Transport Minister, Mr Dempsey’s statement in July was that Iarnrod Eireann completed a scoping study in December 2007 in which they examined nine routes and concluded that the project was economically viable. Two of these routes were found to be suitable and are now subject of a study to produce a comparative business case, which will be submitted to the department when it is completed. It is anticipated that phase two of the line will be opened and operation in 2015 in accordance with Transport 21, he added.

lostexpectation

the councillors bring this up often enough and we see it in the papers but i can't remember them bringin up the issues in this thread about the physicals blockages to the line, let alone the budget are they aware of them?

Stroke Politics

lostexpectation wrote: »

the councillors bring this up often enough and we see it in the papers but i can't remember them bringin up the issues in this thread about the physicals blockages to the line, let alone the budget are they aware of them?

No. All councillors like Mr. Fitzgerald remember are that they have to face the electorate in local elections in 8 months time.....

lostexpectation

welll they are trying to appear to fight for the line but they are also suggesting the possibilty that it will never happen, so why not mention it has been severily hindered physically? it would make em sound more intetlligent, they always like pointing out something their rivals haven't and being its vanguard.

DWCommuter

Expect this line to be eh..."delayed" in the budget next week, followed by Dempseys speech to Navan about how tough decisions have to be made. But let me say this now, the budget has nothing to do with this line not reopening. It was never on the cards anyway. They'll talk about deviations east of Dunshaughlin for the next 20 years and then some. Grab your keys and hit the M3.

Stroke Politics

DWCommuter wrote: »

Expect this line to be eh..."delayed" in the budget next week, followed by Dempseys speech to Navan about how tough decisions have to be made. But let me say this now, the budget has nothing to do with this line not reopening. It was never on the cards anyway. They'll talk about deviations east of Dunshaughlin for the next 20 years and then some. Grab your keys and hit the M3.

...and your wallet.

Spot on my friend. We can't have any public transport competition affecting the car park revenue in Navan's new shopping centre beside the train line, now can we...?

ecaf

Slightly off-topic, but the old stone railway bridge at Cannistown was demolished yesterday!
I think it is a pity, it would have been a lovely old monument to view from the new road, and it (isn't) wasn't in the way of the new road or anything.

They will probably come along and a new monument in its place or something silly to waste more money.

Sponge Bob

Noel Dempseys statue , erected by the eternally grateful people of Meath, must go somewhere after all .

trellheim

I thought they were going to put a massive statue on the M3, like the Boyne Bridge on the M1, where you drive between his legs

IIMII

ecaf wrote: »

Slightly off-topic, but the old stone railway bridge at Cannistown was demolished yesterday!

It has, and they have started to excavate a large pit for the want of a better term where it was. Something is happening, and the only thing I can think of is that maybe they are going to sink the alignment. Or it could be something completely unrelated but I doubt that. The foundations for that statue maybe..:) I haven't got a pic, but I'll get one.

DWCommuter

According to RUI its all been a fuss about nothing and all will be revealed in the next two weeks. I'll have a look at this "pit" tomorrow though. If they are sinking the alignment a box structure is still required under the M3 and the alignment will have to go under the recently realigned local road on the Dublin side. Im still not convinced.

IIMII

So this will need to be sunk below the level of this if that is the case..

Can those in the know in RUI enlighten the rest of us what's to be revealed if it is the original bridge from the hearings? Why didn't they mention this before if they knew there wasn't a problem?

Fantastic, great if it is a fuss about nothing. Doesn't explain why the NRA recently said in the local media that they are only designing a bridge now. And I remember hearing from MCC that a fuss was being made about nothing in relation to the Dunshaughlin Sewerage Scheme, so lets see what happens

If the NRA's word was that they were only now designing a bridge, and if IÉ said that it was nothing to do with them, it was the NRA's problem then that they were giving out the inaccurate information.

I'd love to see what they are going to build, if it is the bridge in the original planning condition etc. It would be a big drop vertically as the road level itself is a good metre below what the level of the trackbed was before they built through it.

Either way, though the alignment may be preserved horizontally it definitely will be dropped to a serious depth.

An observation from looking at the 'pit' is that it seems to be a little off the old alignment. If they are sinking it, is it possible they are altering the alignment to avoid the backs of the houses/workshop on the Navan side, as well as those houses that have they back gardens on the alignment on the Bective Gaelic grounds side? It's a good distance from the viaduct so if they do intend to use that again if the line is built, I'd imagine it wouldn't be a problem

DWCommuter

IIMII wrote: »

So this will need to be sunk below the level of this if that is the case..

Can those in the know in RUI enlighten the rest of us what's to be revealed if it is the original bridge from the hearings? Why didn't they mention this before if they knew there wasn't a problem?

Fantastic, great if it is a fuss about nothing. Doesn't explain why the NRA recently said in the local media that they are only designing a bridge now. And I remember hearing from MCC that a fuss was being made about nothing in relation to the Dunshaughlin Sewerage Scheme, so lets see what happens

If the NRA's word was that they were only now designing a bridge, and if IÉ said that it was nothing to do with them, it was the NRA's problem then that they were giving out the inaccurate information.

I'd love to see what they are going to build, if it is the bridge in the original planning condition etc. It would be a big drop vertically as the road level itself is a good metre below what the level of the trackbed was before they built through it.

Either way, though the alignment may be preserved horizontally it definitely will be dropped to a serious depth.

An observation from looking at the 'pit' is that it seems to be a little off the old alignment. If they are sinking it, is it possible they are altering the alignment to avoid the backs of the houses/workshop on the Navan side, as well as those houses that have they back gardens on the alignment on the Bective Gaelic grounds side? It's a good distance from the viaduct so if they do intend to use that again if the line is built, I'd imagine it wouldn't be a problem

As regards your pictures and question, the answer is yes. As for RUI, well I got no definitive answers from MCC or ABP to my queries. Maybe RUI did. Or maybe they are just foraging off the scraps of info that they get. I did know that something was due to start at the end of Sept. Now its two weeks according to Mark Gleeson of RUI, who has implied, on more than one occasion, that its all a fuss about nothing without explaining why. Maybe the NRA are organising a "parting of the M3" by Moses. Who noses!

IIMII

Can't see what the secret is, especially if it is RUI with the nose - we know what NRA are supposed to be doing, and they are either doing it or they are not. I presume it's reasonable to deduct that Mark knows that they are building the originally planned bridge or a version thereof

It wouldn't surprise me, but I remain unconvinced that they had intended to build any bridge - every other bridge structure along the M3 is all but finished, and yet nothing has happened at Cannistown until now.

Maybe RUI do only have scraps of info - still can't understand why anyone would sit on any info if they have it though.

All very mysterious

DWCommuter

I was always under the impression that the railway was going under the M3 and not over. Maybe IE delayed it all and its now going over. But its gonna be some bridge if thats the case. The next few weeks will reveal it all.

BrianD

Just one issue I am confused about with M£ conditions. The original railway alignment was encroached upon by the old N3 between the junction for Dunboyne (off the N3) and the Black Bull/Fairyhouse cross. The M3 will now run on where the railway was. Assuming that I have this correct, is there any real issue about the Cannistown bridge given that there are more serious issues further south at Fairyhouse Cross?

IIMII

DWCommuter wrote: »

I was always under the impression that the railway was going under the M3 and not over.

That's what is/was supposed to have happened, and that seems to be what may be happening now. But the road will be at grade, not the railway

DWCommuter wrote: »

Maybe IE delayed it all and its now going over.

Can't see it being IÉ in this case - the plans were drawn up at the time, no thanks to them of course

BrianD wrote: »

Just one issue I am confused about with M3 conditions. The original railway alignment was encroached upon by the old N3 between the junction for Dunboyne (off the N3) and the Black Bull/Fairyhouse cross. The M3 will now run on where the railway was. Assuming that I have this correct, is there any real issue about the Cannistown bridge given that there are more serious issues further south at Fairyhouse Cross?

There is plenty of room for the M3 and the line to run together at this point. The nessessary clearance height seems to be built into the Blackbull embankment too, but not the actual physical bridge. Which means they will have to close the R154 to put one in at a later date. If the R154 is closed in the future, Trim traffic will have to route through Dunshaughlin and local traffic through Dunboyne via Batterstown I'd imagine for the duration of the works and then of course you have the costs

Anyway, it may all be irrelevant after the budget!

DWCommuter

Lets take stock of the situation as it now stands.

There has always been a reference to a deviation at Black Bull and this reference was to the realignment of the railway along the short stretch that the old N3 encroached on. It was never a problem as ample land was available. Of course, now that the R154 has been realigned onto an embankment and over the M3, the rail alignment is blocked. As pointed out above, reinstatement would now involve considerably more expense and huge traffic diversions.

Its not easy to get a train through this....

blackbull2.jpg

Further along the line at Drumree, it was also anticipated that the railway would have to be realigned by about 100m. Again no big deal as ample land is available. Next up was Kilmessan where a deviation was needed to clear a housing estate and possibly the original station, now a hotel. Interestingly, the hotel was refused planning permission for an extension a few years back on the grounds that it would prohibit the reopening of the railway.

Of course we have been debating cannistown here for the last few weeks. The deviation here was to accomodate home owners, whose gardens were now part of the original alignment. A minor deviation.

Now when we consider that the original alignment (with the aforementioned deviations) was emerging as the preferred route in December 2007, its quite shocking that the M3 has now had such an impact on this alignment. When the M3 was being planned, concerned locals in cannistown campaigned successfully for retainment of the rail alignment. Whats being built up there now (apparently) doesn't really look like its a serious attempt at protecting the future integrity of the rail alignment. Its also fair to say that during the M3 planning process, other encroachments on the rail line were missed. Ive cited the area around blackbull as an example. Recently Ive been told that other possible encroachments may have been made at Drumree and at an area on the Navan side of Cannistown. The wording used in relation to the navan rail alignment was, "permanently blocked". I havent been out to have a look yet, but I reckon it may be worth a visit. My reckoning is that link road to the new interchange immediately north of the rail alignment at cannistown is built over the line. I think the area may be called Ballybatter, but locals could confirm this.

If IMMII can get out to these areas for a look before I do, then maybe we'll have a better idea. Personally I'm convinced that the M3 has made the original alignment unworkable and is evidence that this Government was never really committed to reopening the line. I said this as early as 2005. Any talk of deviations through Dunshauglin etc are just baloney and possible tools for delay and abandonment of the project.

For the record yet again, this line will never be built.

IIMII

There is another M3 related incursion just beside the old stone bridge at the back of the Old Bridge Inn near Kilcairn. It's the road up the back of the Inn from the N3 to the Balreask Arms. Similar to what they have done at Drumree. As the one at the back of the Old Bridge Inn is off limits due to the road being closed, I haven't seen it but I do believe it is work, cost time and money.

But not in the same league as the Cannistown one if it wasn't built

It's all a joke to be honest. Even if it is reopened (which I would dearly love for the sake of people up here), the sheer wastage by not having done this stuff as part of the M3 scheme will be unforgivable

DWCommuter

The mere fact that the M3 appears to be butchering the alignment at will, when its Government policy to reopen it, is bewildering in its audacity. Dempsey should not be let off the hook on this one. The NRA knew what was going to happen. Cannistown was the only area spotted and I'll bet the job done there is useless to any realistic reopening. IE must know whats going on, but I get the sense that Tom Finn saw the writing on the wall and thats why he was reprimanded for his comments in Navan.

IIMII

This is it. You might not think building a bridge here and there is that big a deal. Until you think of the hassle at Newlands Cross, and I believe that has been put back too now

IIMII

The R154 bridge opened today by the way

DWCommuter

Yeah seen it. What sprung to mind for the railway was, NO WAY THROUGH. I'd love to forget about this, but its the one issue that Ive always been close to and the sheer complacency from MCC and IE is mind boggling. Im gonna check the rail route Vs M3 again. Photograph the **** out of it and bring it to a journo friend of mine for a second look. Somethings not right with this.

dowlingm

Google Maps/Earth imagery doesn't seem to be terrific in that area. Could someone with hardcopy maps use Google Maps or something to give some idea of where all these locations are? I think it might be time to start thinking about abandoning the alignment but the question would be where it could logically be minimally diverted.

There have been holy wars pushed through less vigorously than this fecking M3.

Victor

The maps on maps.live.com are a bit better for that area - use the Bird's Eye View option (Cannistown is right at the edge of the Bird's Eye View so if you go further south, it reverts to a map). http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=sy2f4ygf9pr4&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=27943303&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

You can also try http://maps.epa.ie/InternetMapViewer/mapviewer.aspx

Cannistown is a few km south of Navan and also know as Kennastown.

IIMII

dowlingm wrote: »

Could someone with hardcopy maps use Google Maps or something to give some idea of where all these locations are?

There is a map here. And that pit is getting seriously deep. It's the bridge alright

spacetweek

DWCommuter wrote: »

Yeah seen it. What sprung to mind for the railway was, NO WAY THROUGH.

What does everyone think of this post? More cryptic comments about "embankments on the R154" in preparation for the railway. But like people keep pointing out, without the underpass, you'd have to close the M3 while you constructed it.

IIMII

Not the M3, but the R154 would have to close as would the R125.. Should have been stuck in from the start. It's the absence of a bridge in Cannistown that would have caused the M3 to close, but that or a version of it is being built by the looks of things

Should be possible to slide one under the road without closing it!

Stroke Politics

IIMII wrote: »

There is a map here. And that pit is getting seriously deep. It's the bridge alright

I have never seen that site before, when was it set up?

DWCommuter

Stroke Politics wrote: »

I have never seen that site before, when was it set up?

Very recently.

Its a great timeline of events and info, but in terms of anything it may say thats positive about a reopening of this line, well that's just opinion and spin, from and to the politicians. Anyone close to this project and with no agenda, will stand by the reality that says it will never happen and the M3 has made it even more difficult for future generations.

Great site though and badly needed.

DWCommuter

Ive read the oral hearing and some other documents about the cannistown section and then I read them again and again and again. I hope the following might explain the cannistown conundrum.

1.IE were satisfied with going over the M3 at cannistown, because the road was being built just below the grade of the railway and the original railway approached the M3 site on an embankment. The M3 design team were leaving it to IE to build this bridge if a future reopening came off. IE withdrew their objection to the M3 at cannistown, on the basis of a rail bridge being the best interface of rail and motorway at this point. (April 2001) That is IEs last involvement.
2. The Bellinter residents association objected to this bridge on the grounds of the cost of reopening the Navan line. They wanted the horizontal preservation of the rail alignment by placing the M3 on an embankment. (Rail under M3 as originally preferred by IE in August 2000)
3. The NRA people explained that to put the motorway on an embankment at this point would be far more unsightly and a visual intrusion.

So the M3 went ahead at grade through cannistown, while ABP upheld the rail under motorway preference of the residents and what everyone failed to realise was that this actually plays havoc with the railways horizontal alignment and prohibits it from clearing the nearby realigned local road. Thats why this box structure is leaving the horizontal alignment of the railway up to 20 metres lower than it is on either side. Yes MCC and the NRA have just done it by the book, but that should not excuse MCC. IE are the biggest criminals in this as they have taken a minimal interest in it during the important stages. They had no involvement in the current structure at cannistown. ABP have also lacked proper advice.

This box structure is a waste of time, effort and money. Furthermore the blatant obstructions elsewhere are in complete contradiction to MCC policy. Regardless of a definitive route still to be decided, MCC were actively promoting protection of the alignment. The case involving the station house hotel in kilmessan is clear evidence of this. In other areas such as the M3, they didn't give a damn. Thats the conumdrum of all this. MCC talked up the alignment with one mouth and butchered it with another mouth. In summary....

1. The alignment is blocked at, Black bull, Drumree and Kilcairn, with sewer pipes in Dunsany.
2. The cannistown structure is useless, as the M3 is not on an embankment.
3. In engineering terms, these things are perhaps, but not definately surmountable, but the added cost is prohibitive and clear as crystal evidence that the Navan rail project has been neglected by MCC, IE and Government. The reasons are a combination of disinterest, ignorance, agenda and maybe even downright lies.

There is no role for logic in relation to this project. Its a joke.

IIMII

If they were put on trial for having thought about how to protect the Navan line, I doubt there would be enough evidence to find them guilty!

Well only 5 months left to the next offering, the feasability study which going on rumours locally may include an east of Dunshaughlin deviation...

I wonder will details of costs for Blackbull R154, R125, Kilcairn and sinking the alignment at Cannistown be included. Not to mention shifting the pipes at Dunsany??

Cool Mo D

DWCommuter wrote: »

Ive read the oral hearing and some other documents about the cannistown section and then I read them again and again and again. I hope the following might explain the cannistown conundrum.

1.IE were satisfied with going over the M3 at cannistown, because the road was being built just below the grade of the railway and the original railway approached the M3 site on an embankment. The M3 design team were leaving it to IE to build this bridge if a future reopening came off. IE withdrew their objection to the M3 at cannistown, on the basis of a rail bridge being the best interface of rail and motorway at this point. (April 2001) That is IEs last involvement.
2. The Bellinter residents association objected to this bridge on the grounds of the cost of reopening the Navan line. They wanted the horizontal preservation of the rail alignment by placing the M3 on an embankment. (Rail under M3 as originally preferred by IE in August 2000)
3. The NRA people explained that to put the motorway on an embankment at this point would be far more unsightly and a visual intrusion.

So the M3 went ahead at grade through cannistown, while ABP upheld the rail under motorway preference of the residents and what everyone failed to realise was that this actually plays havoc with the railways horizontal alignment and prohibits it from clearing the nearby realigned local road. Thats why this box structure is leaving the horizontal alignment of the railway up to 20 metres lower than it is on either side. Yes MCC and the NRA have just done it by the book, but that should not excuse MCC. IE are the biggest criminals in this as they have taken a minimal interest in it during the important stages. They had no involvement in the current structure at cannistown. ABP have also lacked proper advice.

This box structure is a waste of time, effort and money. Furthermore the blatant obstructions elsewhere are in complete contradiction to MCC policy. Regardless of a definitive route still to be decided, MCC were actively promoting protection of the alignment. The case involving the station house hotel in kilmessan is clear evidence of this. In other areas such as the M3, they didn't give a damn. Thats the conumdrum of all this. MCC talked up the alignment with one mouth and butchered it with another mouth. In summary....

1. The alignment is blocked at, Black bull, Drumree and Kilcairn, with sewer pipes in Dunsany.
2. The cannistown structure is useless, as the M3 is not on an embankment.
3. In engineering terms, these things are perhaps, but not definately surmountable, but the added cost is prohibitive and clear as crystal evidence that the Navan rail project has been neglected by MCC, IE and Government. The reasons are a combination of disinterest, ignorance, agenda and maybe even downright lies.

There is no role for logic in relation to this project. Its a joke.

Very interesting and informative post.

niallb

DWCommuter wrote: »

1. The alignment is blocked at, Black bull, Drumree and Kilcairn,with sewer pipes in Dunsany....

Which are barely four years old.

murphaph

While we're on about Meath County Council's planning record....Meath Chronicle says incinerator planning files gone missing! :rolleyes:

Stroke Politics

murphaph wrote: »

While we're on about Meath County Council's planning record....Meath Chronicle says incinerator planning files gone missing! :rolleyes:

I saw this headline and thought it might be something to do with them moving down to Abbey Road, but apparently, this file was last seen 2 months ago, so the "moving house" excuse doesn't apply here. If I had the time, the conspiracy theorist in me would go down there to request a look at the planning files for the M3 and the rail line.... If they still have them....

IIMII

The best photo of what has happened with the R154 Trim road and railway is actually the banner photo on the Eurolink M3 website at the link below, on the M3 benefits page:

http://www.eurolink-m3.ie/project_benefits.html

The red line is the alignment.

Ste.phen

I take it the red line is the rail alignment?

IIMII

It is, overlooked mentioning that..

lostexpectation

has-junction-severed-rail-alignment
http://www.meathpost.com/2008/11/05/has-junction-severed-rail-alignment/
well done to those who finally got a paper to cover this story

DWCommuter

And MCC are liars. But fear not as this isn't the last you'll hear about it.

Seth Brundle

Does anyone know if the NRA or IR (or even anyone within Leinster Hse.) have made any comment on this by now?

Sponge Bob

kbannon wrote: »

Does anyone know if the NRA or IR (or even anyone within Leinster Hse.) have made any comment on this by now?

Why of course they have . Noel Dempsey of all people and he was thanked by Mary Wallace for it . From this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054948917

By Anne Casey, Meath Chronicle, Sat, 6th March 1999

The proposed new rail service to Navan and Dublin took a step closer to reality this week as the government looked set to approve a massive overhaul of the suburban rail system.

The Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, has predicted that a rail link with Navan should be in place in less than five years, and insisted that any passenger railway coming into the county could not be allowed to stop short of Navan.

The Cabinet is believed to be ready to approve a confidential report on suburban rail, which provides for a new inland rail link to Navan, serving Clonsilla and Dunboyne.

Proposals are also being discussed regarding the possibility of taking a route through Blanchardstown and Dunshaughlin to Ratoath and Ashbourne.

According to Minister Dempsey, bringing the rail service to Navan is at the top of the agenda. He pointed out that the Strategic Planning Initiative signalled that Navan was to become a dormitory town of Dublin and said that any housing initiatives would have to be linked with public transport developments.

It is still at the top of Noels agenda even though it has been delayed just a little . Why don't you Meath people thank the man. He so deserves it.

It is almost entirely thanks to Noel that Meath is worth living in

DWCommuter

And here is the so called railway structure at cannistown. Note its already flooded and they are constantly pumping water out of it. For newcomers the original rail line used to run at a level just above the top of this concrete blackhole. To the left it approaches on an embankment. Futureproffing? Eh...sorry, but no. Just sopping.

To put it in perspective, the first snap shows the M3 in exactly the same spot last Summer. It was getting ready for Tar. Then they seemed to realise that a "structure" had to go in and thats whats in the second snap. But its a waste of time and absolutely nobody can confirme what was actually meant to be built here and how. It like something out of the X-Files and the amount of mulders and Scullys up in MCC is really funny.

cannistown2.jpg
Just look at the lovely surface ready for some tar in June 08. Note the original railway road bridge on the right.

cannistownblackhole.jpg
As of today, the new structure is in, despite the fact that they nearly forgot about it. But don't get too excited as its usless anyway.