No Navan rail line for 10 years... Political reaction to NTA Draft Strategy

The Navan rail line is firmly back on the agenda – but it could be at least 10 years before it is completed.

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

The news has been described as a disaster for Meath by Deputy Darren O'Rourke while Minister Damien English urged the people of Meath to engage with the public consultation, to stress the importance of delivering it earlier.

Minister Thomas Byrne said the planning for the project could take place much more quickly than suggested and welcomed the fact that the rail line is now firmly back on the agenda for the first time since Fianna Fail was last in government.

Senator Shane Cassells said "new life has been breathed back into the rail line to Navan."

"The voice of the people can no longer be ignored due to the sheer volume of submissions received from Meath with 2,000 of the 4,000 respondents coming from the county," he stated.

The NTA published an updated Transport Strategy this morning (Tuesday), which sets out the framework for investment in transport infrastructure and services over the next two decades to 2042.

The NTA plan states that the existing rail network "will be extended by the provision of a new rail line from the M3 to Navan town."

Deputy O'Rourke expressed frustration at the timeline in the plan.

"This is dreadful news for Meath," said Deputy O'Rourke. "I am very concerned that the government seems to be pushing back rail projects .

"Despite the rail line to Navan being the largest single issue raised during this strategy’s consultation, a shovel won’t be lifted this side of 2031. "

"I struggle to see how we can halve our transport emissions over the next decade with these projects delayed." he said.

Minister Thomas Byrne was much more upbeat. “This is unambiguous good news. A lot of work has been taking place on planning for the rail line, it is in the development plan, the money is there for it, and it can be accelerated.”

Minister Damien English said it was great news that the rail line was definitely going to happen, but he didn’t agree with the timeline of 2031.

"The money has been set aside to bring it though the stages and we must continue at speed to get it through planning and railway orders. I will be working to get the timelines changed and I would urge people to engage with the consultant process to show how urgently it is needed."

Senator Shane Cassells welcomed he news which he described as fantastic and said it had given the project "new life and momentum".

"Critically the NTA could no longer ignore the voice of the people of Meath. The fact that some 2,000 people from Meath made a submission to this plan has been recognised in the document."

"According to the NTA document they acknowledged that almost half of respondents who gave a place of residence, were from County Meath, reflecting the scale of the campaign to deliver a rail service to Navan."

"We are now firmly back on the agenda and I will be inviting the Taoiseach to Meath to see for himself the old line and station and impressing upon him the need for this line to get the backing it deserves and see delivery happen swiftly," remarked Cassells.

Dunboyne’s Cllr Damien O'Reilly "cautiously welcomed" the strategy.

The NTA plan also includes an upgrade of the N2 which will include the long-awaited Slane Bypass.

Cllr Wayne Harding said the project had never been on a more prioritised footing and he looked forward to the publication of the public realm plan for Slane, which would form part of the planning application for the bypass.