Dublin–Navan railway line

Dublin–Navan railway line
[v · d · e]Dublin to Navan Line
Legend
Unknown BSicon "extCONTg"
DART Line 2 (To Hazelhatch) (From 2015)
Right side head station of cross-platform interchange Unknown BSicon "teCPICr"
Docklands (Luas Spencer Dock)
Straight track Unknown BSicon "exTUNNELe"
Straight track Unknown BSicon "exSTR"
DART Line 2 (To Howth) (From 2015)
To Dundalk
Continuation to left Unknown BSicon "ABZ3rg" Unknown BSicon "KRZu" Unknown BSicon "eABZ3rf" Continuation to right
To Dublin Connolly
Drumcondra
Stop on track Straight track
Track turning from left Junction to right Straight track Unknown BSicon "tCONTg"
Straight track Track turning left Junction from right Exit tunnel
Phoenix Park Tunnel (to Dublin Heuston)
Track turning left Transverse track Unknown BSicon "KRZo" Track turning right
Unknown BSicon "eABZrg" Unknown BSicon "exKBHFr"
Dublin Broadstone (closed 1937)
Unknown BSicon "eBHF"
Liffey Junction (closed 1937)
Stop on track
Broombridge
Stop on track
Ashtown
Stop on track
Phoenix Park
Stop on track
Castleknock
Stop on track
Coolmine
Station on track
Clonsilla
Junction to left Continuation to right
To Sligo
Unknown BSicon "eHST"
Hansfield (open 2010)
Stop on track
Dunboyne
Unknown BSicon "KHSTxe"
M3 Parkway
Unknown BSicon "exGRENZE"
Phase 1/Phase 2 Boundary
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Batterstown (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Drumree (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Dunshaughlin (open 2015)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Kilmessan Junction (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exSTRrg" Unknown BSicon "exABZrf"
Trim
Unknown BSicon "exHST" Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Kilmessan (open 2015)
(closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exSTR" Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Bective (closed 1947)
Athboy
Unknown BSicon "exKHSTe" Unknown BSicon "exSTR"
(closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Navan Central (open 2015)
To Drogheda
Continuation to left Unknown BSicon "xABZlg"
Unknown BSicon "eBHF"
Navan Junction (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "exSTRrg" Unknown BSicon "xABZdlf" Non-passenger terminus from right
Tara Mine
To Oldcastle
Unknown BSicon "exCONTf" Unknown BSicon "exSTR"
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Navan North (open 2015)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Gibbstown (closed )
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Wilkinstown (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Nobber (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Kilmainham Wood (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exABZlf" Unknown BSicon "exSTRlg"
Unknown BSicon "exSTR" Unknown BSicon "exKDSTe"
Gypsum Industries (rail link closed 2001)
Unknown BSicon "exKBHFe"
Kingscourt (closed 1947)

The Dublin-Navan line is a commuter railway line between Dublin and the town of Navan in County Meath.

Contents

History

Navan was originally a significant part of the expanding rail network in Ireland. The Dublin and Drogheda Railway first constructed a branch from the Dublin-Belfast main line through Navan to the town of Oldcastle which opened in 1850. In 1862, the Dublin and Meath Railway constructed and operated a branch from Clonsilla to Navan off the MGWR main line to Sligo. This line was extended to Kingscourt in County Cavan in 1865, operated by the Navan and Kingscourt Railway. Both of these lines were eventually purchased by the MGWR, while the Oldcastle line was eventually incorporated into the GNR(I). Navan railway station itself was a small single platform stop on the Oldcastle line.[1] The main station for the town was Navan Junction, which had four platforms serving trains on both routes.[2]

In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a large scale rationalisation of the railway network in Ireland, which saw Córas Iompair Éireann close large sections of line. Passenger services on the Kingscourt line were ended in 1947, while on the Oldcastle line they continued until 1958. The lines from Clonsilla and Oldcastle to Navan was lifted in 1963, with the remainder remaining open for freight use following the withdrawal of passenger services - the Gypsum Industries plant in Kingscourt utilised the line as far as Navan Junction before transferring to the Oldcastle line to transport gypsum to the Plantin Cement works just outside Drogheda, while the Tara Mine also uses the Oldcastle branch to transport lead and zinc. Following industrial action by Iarrnrod Eireann Train Drivers in 2001, Gypsum freight services from Kingscourt were transferred to road haulage, which led to the remainder of the line being mothballed. The line has been preserved however, with the then Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms. Mary O'Rourke, ordrering Iarnrod Eireann NOT to 'lift' the railway line, as it may be used in the future.

Proposal

The growth of the economy in County Meath, added to the increase in the population of Navan,[3] has led to calls over the past few years for a rail service to be reinstated from Dublin. As part of the Transport 21 plan announced by the Irish Government in 2005, the line to Navan would be rebuilt in two phases as a branch of the Western Commuter line. The first phase would see a 7.5 km stretch from the junction west of Clonsilla. This would feature three new railway stations at Hansfield, Dunboyne and a major park and ride interchange next to the M3 motorway. This has become operational in September 2010.[4] The second phase, was planned to be complete by 2015, would have seen the line extended from the Pace/M3 Interchange to Navan itself, with further stations at Dunshaughlin, Kilmessan and two in Navan itself.

The implementation of the proposal is hampered by the existence of the privately owned M3, tolled at two points, and capacity constraints on the Great Northern line into Dublin. Dublin Connolly is operating at the limit of its capacity and is allegedly unable to take the extra services envisaged by the Navan line. As a consequence of planning decisions, as part of the wider rail plan (which also involves changes to the DART system), a new railway terminus in the Docklands area of Dublin was constructed. Docklands currently serves as the terminus for services on the Western Commuter originating from Clonsilla.[5] The proposal would have seen this station expanded to become the main terminus for Western Commuter services, including from Navan, as well as a stop for planned DART services through the Interconnector. However, in 2007, Iarnród Éireann announced plans to restore rail services to the long closed Dublin Broadstone station - it was this that IÉ planned to use as its major terminus for commuter services from Mullingar and Navan.[6] However, in March 2008, the transport minister blocked these proposals in favour of utilising Broadstone for the Luas system, instead encouraging IÉ to seek planning permission to keep Docklands in place as the terminus for the Navan line, as well as services from Maynooth and Kildare.[7] As part of the wider improvements to the commuter network around Dublin, the line will electrified as far as Pace and will form part of the planned DART Line 1.

Criticism

[v · d · e]Drogheda to Navan Line
Legend
Continuation backward
(To Belfast)
Track turning from left Junction from right
Track turning from left Junction to right Station on track
Drogheda
Platin Cement Works
Non-passenger station/depot on track Straight track Straight track
Track turning left Junction from right Continuation forward
(To Dublin)
Duleek (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "eHST"
Beaupark (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "eHST"
Navan (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "eHST"
To Kingscourt (closed 1947)
Unknown BSicon "exCONTr" Unknown BSicon "eABZlg"
Unknown BSicon "eBHF"
Navan Junction (closed 1958)
Tara Mine
Non-passenger terminus from left Unknown BSicon "xABZdrf" Unknown BSicon "exSTRlg"
Unknown BSicon "exSTR" Unknown BSicon "exCONTf"
To Clonsilla (closed 1947)
Ballybeg (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Kells (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Virginia Road (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "exHST"
Oldcastle (closed 1958)
Unknown BSicon "exKBHFe"

Although the proposal to reinstate a rail service between Dublin and Navan has been welcomed, particularly in view of the comparison of cost with the M3 motorway (estimated to be €650 million against €90 million for the railway[8]), there has been criticism over the details of the proposal. The pressure group Meath on Track have been vocal in their criticism of the timescale for reintroducing the full route,[9] pointing out that a line to Navan already exists, the remaining section of the Oldcastle branch to Drogheda. This line is only used for freight trains from the Tara Mine at Navan and the cement works outside Drogheda. However, Meath on Track maintain that, although it is alleged that it would need to be upgraded to allow passenger trains to run on it, this could be done relatively inexpensively and would provide an immediate commuter service taking approximately 75 minutes.[10] The pressure group Rail Users Ireland (formerly Platform 11) have estimated the cost of restoring this route for passenger trains at €64 million.[11] Their proposal would see the relaying of the line to standards necessary for passenger trains, the installation of two new stations at Duleek as a park and ride and Navan (Navan East), together with the reopening of Navan station. The line was fully relaid in the last couple of years, so this reason is only an excuse trotted out when required.

Criticism has also been levelled at Meath County Council. Rail Users Ireland have pointed out that part of the rail alignment planned to Navan has been obstructed by the installation of a sewer main,[12] while there is indication that Meath County Council have also not ensured the protection of the route sufficiently.[13]

Various groups have also pointed out that, given the two phase approach to implementing the plan, there will be little benefit to residents of Navan until the line is extended there, due to the planned positioning of the toll collection points at Pace/M3. In addition to the planned station being 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Navan itself, the toll point will be positioned before drivers reach the station.[14]

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dublin-Navan railway line — The Dublin Navan line is a planned commuter railway line between Dublin and the town of Navan in County Meath.HistoryProposalThe growth of the economy in County Meath, added to the increase in the population of Navan [… …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin–Sligo railway line — Dublin to Sligo line Overview Type Commuter rail, InterCity, Regional rail and Heavy rail System Iarnród Éireann Status Operational Lo …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin–Rosslare railway line — Dublin to Rosslare line Rock protection from flooding at Kilcoole Overview Type Commuter rail, InterCity, Regional rail …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin–Waterford railway line — Kildare to Waterford line Kildare railway station. Overview Type InterCity and Heavy rail …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin–Belfast railway line — Dublin to Belfast line Enterprise Class 3000 at Lisburn. Overview Type Commuter rail, Regional rail and Heavy rail …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin–Cork railway line — Dublin to Cork line Mark 4 InterCity at Cork Kent. Overview Type Commuter rail, InterCity, Regional rail …   Wikipedia

  • Navan railway station — Railways around Navan Legend To Drogheda …   Wikipedia

  • Dublin Connolly railway station — Coordinates: 53°21′06″N 06°14′57″W / 53.35167°N 6.24917°W / 53.35167; 6.24917 …   Wikipedia

  • Navan Central railway station — Railways around Navan Legend To Drogheda …   Wikipedia

  • Navan Road Parkway railway station — Navan Road Parkway Ollphairc Bothair an Uaimh Location Place Ashtown Local authority Dublin City Council Operations …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”