Navan rail-link could be ten years away

The Navan rail line will definitely go ahead – but it could be at least ten years before it is completed.

The National Transport Authority confirmed today in its draft strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, that the rail link will be delivered, but with a timeline suggesting it would be completed between 2031 and 2042.

The NTA strategy notes that Navan has experienced rapid population growth over the last two decades, with its population increasing by 20 per cent between 2006 and 2016 alone, contributing to a projected population for Meath of up to 250,000 by 2040.

“A significant proportion of the county’s population, particularly along the N3/M3 corridor, travel to and from Dublin City each day for employment and education purposes. Currently, those travel choices are largely limited to car and bus, with some interchange to rail possible at Dunboyne/Pace.

“Having regard to the commuting patterns from this area and analysis work undertaken for rail provision along this corridor, it is proposed to extend the rail system from the M3 Parkway terminus station (just west of Dunboyne) to Navan town, serving Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan along its route,” the document states.

See tonight's Meath Chronicle newspaper for more..