Byrne dismisses costs spike fears for Navan rail line

Recent reports that the development of the proposed new rail link between Navan and Dublin is likely to cost up to €3bn, has led to fears that rising outlay could lead to the project being further delayed.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has said inflationary pressures had pushed up the projected price by €1 billion or more since early indicative costings were carried out three years ago, according to a report last week in the Irish Times.

Deputy Peadar Tóibin said he would not be surprised if “these new inflated estimated figures may actually be kite flying by the government in an effort to long finger the project for another 20 years”.

However, Minister Thomas Byrne said that Fianna Fail was going into government determined to deliver the rail line to Navan. “We are not just going to sit in opposition and complain. I am absolutely certain the rail line to Navan will be delivered,” he said.

The rail line project, which would involve a new line running about 40km from the existing station at M3 Parkway, north of Dunboyne, to Navan is due to be completed in the early to mid-2030s.

Just days before the general election, Iarnród Éireann appointed consultants for the duration of the project to work on the rail line with the rail company’s in-house project team.

“It did not take the government long to row back from pre-election promises to build the Navan to Dublin Rail line. The publication of the a €3billion price tag for the Navan to Dublin Rail line only five days after the election, will in no doubt be used by the government as opportunity to seek to row back from the commitment to build the line, just days ago. I would not be surprised that these new inflated estimated figures may actually be kite flying by the government in an effort to long finger the project for another 20 years,” said Deputy Tóibín.

“One thing is for certain, every time the government postpone this project it gets more expensive. 80,000 people in Meath are commuting every day by car. The government are hiking up the cost of fuel with extra taxes. They say the reason for this is to move people to alternative public transport projects, yet the government are refusing to build those alternative public transport projects”.

“I can tell the government that any further postponement of the rail line will not be tolerated by the people of Meath. The Meath on Track Campaign will be organising a public protest in Meath in the new year. We will mobilise thousands of people to take the streets if this project is long fingered. The current opening date of 2036 is already too far away. We need this project opened in the next six years. We also need to look at the whole manner in which capital projects are built. They are too expensive and too slow. The original Navan to Dublin Rail Line was built in the 1860s in three years with picks and shovels,” he said.

Iarnrod Eireann and the National Transport Authority have been approached for comment.