Call made to reopen Dunboyne railway station

Residents of Dunboyne are angry that the railway station building in the village has been closed for over a year.

They say it leaves people standing in the cold while waiting for trains and the ticket machine often doesn't work properly.

Concern has also been expressed about security at the station, especially for women travelling alone early in the morning or late in the evening.

Suzanne Fagan uses Dunboyne station to travel to work in the Mater Hospital.

"I have been using Dunboyne station since the rail line opened and it is badly missed," she says.

"I walk to the station and have to stand in the cold and wet waiting for the train. As a girl on my own, I don't feel very safe, especially during dark early mornings or evening. I am often on my own on a dark platform.

"You don't know who is around. If the station as open, there would be somewhere warm right and safe to wait. I don't know why it was closed but it has been closed for at least a year.

She said it causes problems too when it comes to getting tickets.

"There is a ticket machines, but I find it isn't always working properly.

"You cannot see what money is on your leap card if you try to tag on," she explains.

Cllr Damien O Reilly has expressed concern that the station has remained closed for so long.

"It is a shame to see the building locked up and rail users with no proper facilities," he stated.

"They have to wait in the cold and dark and there is nobody to help if they have ticket problems.

"Irish Rail has to reopen this piece of infrastructure which was part of a €130 million investment.

"While people are campaigning for the rail line extension to Dunshaughlin and Navan, the first section of this track is missing a vital station, despite such a significant investment from the taxpayer," he said.

Cllr O'Reilly was also critical of the parking charges at Dunboyne Station.

"Since they introduced the parking charges in Dunboyne, hardly anyone is parking there.

"Cars are driving past the Dunboyne station to go to Pace. In a time when we are trying to encourage people to take cars off the road, this doesn't make sense," he said.

Irish Rail was approached for comment.