Government announces Navan rail route

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Transport Minister Noel Dempsey announced that the Route A option past Dunshaughlin is to be the line taken by the Navan rail line from Pace. This follows the route of the former rail line through Batterstown, Drumree, Dunsany and Kilmessan, travelling onto Navan. A second option east of Dunshaughlin was also being considered. The cabinet members said that the Government will be immediately asking Irish Rail to proceed with the necessary preparations for a railway order application (planning permission) for the route. ' Work is already well underway on the first phase of the new Navan rail line from Clonsilla to Dunboyne and it is on target to open in the autumn of next year,' Mr Dempsey stated. 'I am now keen to get construction on phase two of this line from Pace to Navan underway as quickly as possible.' Irish Rail recently submitted the feasibility study on phase two of the Navan rail line to the Department of Transport for decision by the minister.