Rail project escapes Govt's budget axe

The proposed restoration of the Navan-Dublin railway line, scheduled for completion in seven years" time, looks to have escaped the axe in the swingeing cuts introduced by the Government in yesterday"s budget. The first phase of the multi-million euro project, from Clonsilla to Dunboyne, due for completion in two years" time, will go ahead as scheduled. The remainder of the project, from the M3 interchange station at Pace, near Dunboyne, to Navan, set to open in 2015, will be subject to Government approval. However, sources yesterday (Tuesday) told the Meath Chronicle that there was no reason to believe that the second phase would not proceed. There had been intensive speculation over the last number of weeks that a number of high-profile capital projects would be abandoned in the battle to make savings and ease the serious deterioration in the public finances. Among the projects which several commentators had believed would be targeted by the Minister for Finance was the proposed rail link between the city and Navan. Looming threats over infrastructure and investment have dominated the headlines as the Minister for Finance prepared for one of the toughest Budgets in the past 20 years. Capital expenditure plans for 2009 have been cut by €1.4 billion, or 12 per cent, but the fact that the Meath-Dublin rail line has survived the cuts will come as a relief to commuter and business interests who have mounted a vigorous campaign in favour of the public transport initiative over many years. Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was briefing the media on transport aspects of the Budget in his Department yesterday (Tuesday) evening as the Meath Chronicle closed for press. The Navan-Dublin rail line was included in Transport 21, the 10-year investment framework through which the transport system in Ireland would be developed over the period 2006 to 2015. The Government agreed a total investment for the framework of €34 billion over the 10-year period. The T21 plan covers rail, bus, road and air transport. Commuters between Meath and the capital can look forward to a somewhat improved transport service from 2010 when the Dunboyne (M3) commuter rail project is completed. The project will see the construction of a twin track railway line from the planned M3 interchange at Pace through to Clonsilla station in County Dublin, linking into the city centre at the new Docklands station. The 7.5km line follows the route of the old Navan branch line. Two new stations are proposed along the route at Dunboyne and Pace, which also comprises a major park-and-ride facility. Provision is also being made for a third station at Hansfield within this scheme. The new section of track will follow the old Navan branch which operated for over 100 years commencing service on 29th August 1862. Passenger services were suspended temporarily at times during the Second World War due to fuel shortages and finally suspended on 27th January 1947. Goods traffic continued to use the line until it was closed completely by CIE on 1st April 1963. The track was lifted and most of the land disposed of. The re-opening of the Navan-Dunboyne-Clonsilla rail link - examined in the Dublin Transportation Office 'Platform for Change" document published in March 2000 - is an objective of Meath County Council"s development plan and is included in the Government"s Transport 21 programme. The reopening of the first phase of the line from Clonsilla to the M3 interchange at Pace was examined in a feasibility study completed in January 2005. The report was undertaken with the support of Meath and Fingal County Councils and the Dublin Transportation Office. The outcome of the study found the projected as proposed, reinstating the railway line from Clonsilla to the proposed M3 interchange to be economically viable. The Clonsilla to Dunboyne link is due to open in 2010 with both Dunshaughlin and Navan scheduled for 2015.