Preferred Navan Rail route announced

Iarnród Éireann has published the Preferred Route for the new 34-kilometre electrified Navan Railway line, set to provide direct DART services between Dublin City Centre and Navan.

The preferred route includes the four new stations at Dunshaughlin, Kilmessan, Navan Central and Navan North as well as the infrastructure to support up to a 15-minute rail service at peak times between Navan and Dublin’s Connolly Station.

The Preferred Route largely follows the alignment of the original railway line and what was presented during the first public consultation, but targeted changes have been made at various locations based on feedback received and further technical assessments being carried out.

Updates to the design proposals since the first consultation include:

• Changes to the proposed railway alignment in Rathregan, Leshemstown and south Navan

• The location of Dunshaughlin Park & Ride has been moved closer to the proposed new station

• New drawings with additional details of design proposals have been developed to provide more detail for local communities and stakeholders.

The plans envisage trains operating up to every 15 minutes at peak times, with an estimated journey time of 60 minutes between Navan and Dublin, with capacity for up to 4,400 commuters each way per hour, to the largest town in Ireland not currently on the passenger rail network.

Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, has welcomed the publication of the Preferred Route, describing it as "another major milestone towards the delivery of this long-awaited project for County Meath."

“This is another hugely positive step towards delivering the Navan Railway, a project I have consistently championed and one that will transform public transport for communities across County Meath.

“The proposed stations at Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan will be particularly important for my constituency of Meath East, providing new transport options for thousands of commuters and helping to reduce our dependence on cars.

“I am delighted that this Government has committed to progressing the railway through planning, with a Railway Order application expected in 2028 and construction envisaged shortly after planning permission is secured.

“This is a once-in-a-generation investment in the future of County Meath, and I am determined to see it delivered.”

Minister Byrne encouraged local residents, businesses and landowners to engage with the second public consultation, which runs until 10 December 2026.

The Navan Railway project is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority.

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said “The Navan Railway will extend the DART+ network, bringing an electrified rail service to thousands more customers daily. New communities in Meath, not currently served by the passenger rail network, will have access to high-capacity, high-frequency public transport. Feedback through the public consultation process will help us deliver the best possible infrastructure and service to local communities and stakeholders.”

Minister O’Brien said: “This Government is committed to investing in Ireland’s public transport system, as evidenced by the €18 billion we will be investing in public transport infrastructure under the current National Development Plan to 2030. Within that, provision has been made for the Navan rail line to secure planning permission before the end of the decade and enter construction shortly thereafter. Connecting Navan, Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan to the rail network will provide many more people with access to safe, reliable and sustainable public transport, expanding social, work and educational opportunities for all in the area. Public consultation is an essential part of that process, and I encourage everyone to engage with the proposals and give their feedback to help shape the delivery of this important project.”

The Preferred Route is being published as part of the second non-statutory public consultation, which opens today Thursday 12 November 2026, and feedback is invited from local communities and stakeholders until 17:00hrs on Thursday 10th December 2026.

Local knowledge and insight will inform the design and help Iarnród Éireann to shape the project plans, ensuring that it will maximise benefits for customers and the communities it will serve.

Full details on what is being proposed as part of this consultation, how to make a submission and the consultation findings report from the first non-statutory public consultation can be found on the project website www.irishrail.ie/navan-line.

A series of consultation events will be held for those who would like to learn more about the project and speak to the project team directly, details of which can be found below.

Location Date Time

Navan – Solstice Arts Centre 18th November 16 –20:00hrs

Kilmessan – Station House Hotel 24th November 16–20:00hrs

Dunshaughlin – Pastoral Centre 3rd December 15 –19:00hrs

Online webinar – register for the webinar on www.irishrail.ie/navan-line 1st December 19:00hrs

All feedback submitted during this public consultation will be carefully reviewed by the project team and will help inform the next stage of the project.

Proposals will be refined further during the next stage of the project, considering feedback received as part of this second consultation, as well as through the preliminary design and environmental assessment processes.

Every effort will be made to minimise impacts on surrounding lands and consultation with impacted and potentially impacted landowners will continue through the project’s development.

Following consideration of the feedback received and further development of design proposals, a Railway Order application (similar to a planning application) will be prepared and lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) in 2028.

Following lodgement of the Railway Order application, ACP will run a statutory consultation where additional feedback can be submitted to ACP directly.

ACP may choose to conduct an Oral Hearing prior to a decision being made on the Railway Order Application. Impacted and interested stakeholders would have the opportunity during such an Oral Hearing to submit further feedback and discuss the project directly with the ACP Inspector.

Communities along the corridor and other stakeholders are being invited to give their feedback on the proposed plans, which are an integral part of the NTA’s Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.

This project will also support key policies including the National Development Plan Review 2025, the Climate Action Plan 2025 and the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and aligns with the Meath County Development Plan.