Navan Rail Line

Seems silly to ignore Dunshaughlin, or are they just of the opinion that they have the Park and Ride in Dunboyne to service them.

Here's the 2009 - 2015 Local Area Plan for Dunshaughlin, one of the routes for the Navan Rail Line was shown in this plan (in purple just left of the M3 junction). I think the proposed station was to be located were I marked X on the map. The road (R125) crossing the rail line south of the "station" was a new section of road built as part of the M3 motorway contract, it is elevated with an embankment on each side, no underpass bridge was constructed at this location, however, there was a underpass bridge constructed nearer to Navan for a future rail line to pass under the M3 here. From memory this route west of Dunshaughlin wasn't popular at the time and another route east of Dunshaughlin was later proposed, (I'm looking for the map which shows the route) this second route was to appease the Ashbourne & Ratoath commuters at the time, but we didn't see a full route showing where the rail line would cross the L147 (Old N3) and the M3 to facilitate this route east of Dunshaughlin, I think this was councillors and politicians promising the earth, moon and stars for a vote, as there would be at least 4 extra bridges, because the rail line would have to cross both the L147 and the M3 south of Dunshaughlin and again north of the Dunshaughlin to return to the old trackbed again.

At that time there was no plan to use the old trackbed thought Kilmessan via The Station House, a new route was also proposed around Kilmessan, but I would imagine this whole area will be problematic as this is close to the Hill of Tara. Personally I'd like to see this project happen, but we've been promised this rail line for years and I can't see it ever happening at this stage. The best opportunity for this rail line to have happened was when the M3 was being planned / built and the space for the track could have been include along side a lot of the motorway, but that boat has sailed.

Yeah, it's a little strange the location, but they couldn't really get the station any nearer without adding considerable cost with extra bridges to cross the M3. At least they tried to get it nearer to Dunshaughlin, and not stay with the old course through Drumree.

I don't think there is a plan to have a P&R at Dunshaughlin, looking at the size of the purple space allowed on the map above, I'm thinking 25 - 30 car spaces. In my head, I'm thinking this station might look like Maynooth Station with the Straffan Road (R406) next to it, similar to the R125 would be next to the Dunshaughlin Station.

Selecting the original alignment is tantamount to deciding to do nothing. It has all the cost (as there is nothing reusable there, even much of the land would have to be bought back) with none of the benefits as it serves little population. The Business Case wont add up.

I cant under stand why they would go the orginal route. The population are mainly east of the M3. Surley they should bring public transport to the people not the other way.

No, and I haven't check, but the planning was probably already approved at that stage, anyway I personally think the option B (east of Dunshaughlin) was always a none runner.

IMHO, any reopening of the Clonsilla/Navan line would have to include Dunshaughlin and Ratoath and Ashbourne, in some shape or form. Or maybe treat it as a whole new line.

The old alignment is just that, 'old'. For what would be a major financial outlay, it really needs to serve the largest population spots. And by major financial outlay, I mean to include NO LCs. Was stopped at Coolmine LC this morning and the up Sligo train came crawling through the station about 5 minutes after the barriers came down. Ridiculous.

If the gov. are really serious about getting people out of their cars, then they need to put in place a proper, functioning PT system, be it rail or bus. And that is going to cost, big time.

No point in slavishly following an alignment form the 1860s that ignores growing towns, a few miles away.

I haven't seen the design work. IMO, if it doesn't serve the growing population areas, what's the point. There's an awful lot of green fields between Dunboyne and Navan.

I'd have no problem putting 'detailed design work' in the bin and sack the the people who prepared it. I thought the aim was to help solve a growing PT problem and a growing population.

But, if you're happy to more or less follow the 1860s route, great. I'm sure the people of Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne will understand.

There was no detailed design. A preliminary route options study was conducted and the option that miraculously avoids all towns was selected, that was in the celtic tiger era

This refers: https://www.rod.ie/projects/navan-railway-line

The old trackbed goes through Drumree beside Junction 6 of the M3. If that doesn't serve Dunshaughlin then the Motorway doesn't serve Dunshaughlin either.

The other question is the cost/benefit analysis of a winding route that goes from M3 Parkway through Ratoath and Ashbourne and across country to Dunshaughlin. What are the journey times? How much land will need to be CPO'd and how much will it cost? How much will the additional estimate on construction costs be? What are the County, Regional and National planning and spatial objectives? Drawing a line on a map does not take any of those considerations into account.

In addition, experience teaches us that endless redesigning equals endless delays. Who benefits?

I do not see any issue with the old alignment if park and rides and connecting buses serve the station. The main area of service is Navan.

"Nope, doesn’t work that way. People arriving by motorway have a car to get them the rest of the way to the town. People arriving by train don’t."

The old tune on a busted fiddle. There are plenty of stations not bang in the centre of towns all over Ireland but that's not the point in reality. It would be lovely if the powers that be could design something once, and stick to it, before various interests start spinning for redesign or compo or whatever. One would be forgiven for thinking that endless redesign is a deliberate ploy, a bit like RTÉ putting a sucky song up for Eurovision, so they don't have to host it the following year.

https://www.thejournal.ie/rail-review-report-donegal-cavan-monaghan-6127273-Jul2023/ - Rail line to Cavan recommended, which means it would 100% go through Navan.