Strategic Rail Review’s omission of a Navan to Kells track extension met with disappointment

Calls for the extension of the proposed Navan railway line to Kells have been made as the consultation process on the All Island Strategic Rail Review continues.

Disappointment has been expressed in north Meath and Cavan that the review did not include any mention of extending the Navan line to Kells.

The extension of the Dart electrified rail line to Navan is part of a long term proposal for rail transport included in the All Island Strategic Rail Review, which was published earlier this summer.

The review outlined plans for the transformation of the current rail system through electrification, faster speeds, improved frequency, and new routes for people and freight. The extension of the line from Dunboyne to Navan is part of the objectives and is marked on the map for delivery.

Kells councillor Sean Drew said he was disappointed there was no mention of extending the Navan line northwards.

"In the long term, the objective should be the extension of the line to Kells, Cavan, Enniskillen and Derry, to connect the country on a 32-county basis.

"I was disappointed the extension of the line wasn't included in the recent draft.

"I will be making a submission proposing that extension. I have made similar submissions on previous plans."

Cllr Drew urged people to make their views known during the consultation process. The final date for submissions is 29th September.

"Obviously, the priority at the moment is to deliver the rail line to Navan and the focus needs to be on that, but the long term objective has to be the extension of the line to Kells, Cavan and Derry."

Meanwhile, Hugh Morris of the North Meath Rail Group is also urging the public to make submissions on the strategy, which will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland to 2050.

"The growing population of Meath and Cavan has been left out. In light of the time-frame involved, they should be planning the rail link to Kells and further north. There will be 15,000 people living in Kells over the next ten years.

"We have already had the support of Cavan Co Council who supported a motion to extend the railway north to Cavan."

"This is not just about catering for commuters to the city, it would also allow companies and businesses move out of the city."

Mr Morris wrote to the Transport Minister outlining the need to plan now for a rail extension to Kells and in a reply he was told that while the draft review does not include proposals around connecting Kells directly to the rail network, it does include recommendations around the integration of bus and rail timetabling and ticketing to better serve communities not directly on the network.

"This public consultation will give the public and other interested stakeholders across the island an opportunity to share their views on the draft reviews recommendations and associated environmental assessments," according to the response.

Interested parties can send submissions to strategicrailreview@arup.com. The deadline for receipt of submissions as part of this consultation is 11.59pm Friday 29th September.