New push to deliver train station to Bettystown
Calls have made for the deliver of a train station in Bettystown ahead of the introduction of the DART to Drogheda and lower fares that will come into play later this year.
Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan has requested that Meath Co Council write to the Minister for Transport, the NTA and Irish Rail, to pursue the delivery of a new train station in Bettystown in accordance with the County Development Plan.
Tolan put forward the motion at April's Laytown Bettystown Municipal District Meeting to ensure that the inevitable increased passenger numbers can access a local station and not to overburden parking areas already at maximum capacity. The motion received full support from members.
A site at the Narroways road adjacent to Ardmore estate has been identified and zoned off in the County Development Plan.
A major reduction in bus and train fares was announced for Meath commuters earlier this year with the introduction of the Dublin Commuter Zone which will extend approximately 50km from Dublin city centre to include towns such as Navan, Trim, Enfield, Laytown, Ashbourne and Drogheda.
In some cases, commuters will see a massive 50 per cent reduction, such as the standard single adult rail fare from Drogheda to Dublin which will drop from €11.95 to just €6.
It was also revealed that DART+ trains from Dublin to Drogheda would be battery-electric powered by 2025.
DART+ Coastal North will double the number of commuters who can travel on the route, and dramatically increase service frequency according to Iarnród Éireann.
Cllr Tolan told the meeting:
“I know from the last meeting that I had with Irish Rail, the level of detail that has gone through that there is a capacity to deliver a train station in Bettystown. It would be really remiss of Irish Rail and the NTA not to deliver it as part of the DART scheme.
“We have the DART being rolled out, we have the success of the fairer fares, the introduction of Next Generation Ticketing, the Leap fares, changes in the zones. This will increase the capacity on the rail service from September. It is really important that we don't lean all of that increased capacity down to Laytown and Gormanston train stations.”
Tolan added that people living in Bettystown should be able to access a train service without having to travel to one.
“It is really important that we deliver a train station for Bettystown so people can leave the car at home at not have to drive and park outside Laytown or Gormanston, that they can walk and access a train station locally,” said the Fine Gael councillor.
“We have an opportunity now to make sure that is in that plan. I would like Meath Co Council to write the letter outlining the importance and the traffic constraints and parking constraints that we have. Irish Rail do not deliver car parks but they should deliver this extra train station for the line as part of their DART programme.”