Navan already has a railway line

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday April 18, 2006 22:13 by Meath on Track Meath

You could travel from Navan to Dublin in c.65 minutes by rail

Stuck in traffic for up to 2.5 hours on wet mornings, it can be hard to believe that Navan already has a railway, and that you could be in Dublin in approximately 65 minutes on it.

Tara Mines train on the Navan Drogheda line

Stuck in traffic for up to 2.5 hours on wet mornings, it can be hard to believe that Navan already has a railway, and that you could be in Dublin in approximately 65 minutes on it.

In fact it is even harder to believe that the Iarnród Éireann will not allow commuter traffic on the line and that they don't see a future for the Navan Drogheda line as a commuter rail link.

As a Navan and Kells' railway line in the 19th century, it provided both towns with their first rail connection to the national railway network via Drogheda.

Today the Drogheda line from Navan is used only to carry zinc-ore 4 times daily, Monday to Friday from Tara Mines to Dublin Port, and is closed to commuter train traffic.

According to Iarnród Éireann, the reason Navan-Drogheda isn't used for commuter trains is that the track would require an upgrade as it has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Fair enough, you say to yourself. Upgrade the line to passenger standard and give the people of Navan and Duleek the chance to travel to Dublin without stress and in comfort by railway.

But unfortunately for Meath's commuters, Iarnród Éireann has refused to do just that.

At the Transport 21 meeting in Navan in Febuary 2006, it was announced that commuter rail link to Dublin via Drogheda would not be needed, as Navan would have a new direct rail link in 10 years time.

10 years, stuck in traffic for up to 5 hours a day when Navan already has a rail link?

Support the Meath on Track campaign for rail transport now in Meath.

More information and photos at the link below.