Irish Rail bosses hopeful preferred route will be identified by end 2026
The delivery of the Navan Rail Line is "one of the most critical piece of infrastructure for the future development of Meath for generations to come" a local authority meeting was told this week as Irish Rail bosses said they were hopeful that a preferred route for the project would be identified by the end of 2026.
The project involves a new rail line of approximately 20 kilometres from the existing terminus station at M3 Parkway, north of Dunboyne, to the busy and growing commuter town of Navan, delivering direct Navan to Dublin city centre rail services.
Irish Rail said the goal was to bring an electrified DART style service to Navan.
The first phase of the programme will see scope and design development, and route option selection, developed over the next two years to deliver the "critical piece of infrastructure" the meeting was told.
This will include public consultation on the emerging preferred route proposal and will prepare for a Railway Order (equivalent of planning permission) application to An Bord Pleanála in 2027. The line is expected to serve new stations, including at Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan along its route.
Paul Hendrick, Director of Capital Investments, Alan Lord, Director of Development and Design and Programme Manager Senan Moynihan represented Irish Rail at the full Meath Co Council meeting on Monday.
It was confirmed that RPS has been assigned as the multi-disciplinary consultant in conjunction with Irish Rail.
The transport experts said that the cost could not be estimated at this early stage but would be at least €1 billion, with potential economic benefits including property value increases and job creation.
Irish Rail said that it would be a four to five year construction period post the railway order being granted with project having to be completed within a ten year period as per planning stipulations.
Some of the benefits of the scheme outlined once implemented would be to provide sustainable travel options to commuters, contribute to achieving low carbon targets by 2050, create a high frequency, high capacity public transport service along the corridor, improve connectivity and accessibility and also enable transport orientated urban compact growth.
The meeting was told that the project, last active in 2011, was revived due to population growth in South Meath, particularly in the areas of Ashbourne, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin and Ratoath along with new environmental regulations in place.
It was pointed out that Navan is the second biggest town in Ireland at the moment that is without a rail link, now second only to Swords.
"It's important to point out that the NTA have impressed on us that in identifying route options for this scheme, that only 25 per cent of the public transport trips that are made daily are for the purposes of commuting to and from work, that actually 75 per cent of the trips are made for other services," said Project Manager Senan Moynihan.
"It's not just about getting commuters from Navan into Dublin and back again. It's about improving accessibility and to the public transport users on that route to the greater Dublin area and metropolitan region."
The meeting was told that each consultation would involve briefings to the local authority and the councilors along with engagement with landowners, businesses, residents and also community groups. There will be local information evenings in the communities and there will be a website outlining the details.
"Through completing all of those tasks we hope to have identified an emerging preferred route by Q3 of this year with a view of having the first round of public consultation by Q4 of this year. Depending on what comes from that we hope to consult of what will be our preferred route in Q2 of next year. We hope then to have a preferred route approved in principle by the end of next year," said Mr Moynihan.
Fianna Fail Cllr Wayne Harding welcomed the update on the project and said that he is confident that RPS, the engineering consultants behind the Slane Bypass will do their utmost to take it over the line.
"From what I've seen in Slane, it will be a really, really high class team, and with the specific task of advancing this as quickly as possible. It's 12 years since we had a refusal in Slane so there is a frustration around the planning aspect of things. I would hope that it was picked up on the fact that RPS has worked on other projects that went straight to a decision without a laborious oral hearing which is really good."
"This is an important meeting today, because in my 25 years on Meath County Council, it's as positive as I've heard for the development of a rail line to Navan," said Ratoath Cllr Nick Killian.
Ashbourne Fine Gael Cllr Alan Tobin said:
"The other thing that will grow out of this organically is the economic corridor it will create and we've seen it in other countries, when you put in Metro, you put in a rail line, you'll see the economic development that grows organically along that line. Property prices go up. You create employment along the line and everything else that comes with it."
Navan Cllr Linda Nelson Murray said:
"In the 1950s my mam and dad would have got to train to Dublin to go to the Happy Ring House and get engaged and it's amazing, that so long ago they could do that.
"I look forward, from a business point of view, to see plenty of Dublin people coming down here for days out. While Canvassing around Navan, every second door would say 'we bought our house because we were told there was a train line coming.' and I know my colleagues around me here have been at this table a lot longer than I have, and they've sat through presentations like this. I would ask us all to look at this project very positively and to put out positive feedback to the community to make sure they're included in it,"
Councillor Ronan Moore, Social Democrats says he welcomed the ambition, intent, and commitment demonstrated by Iarnród Éireann and Meath County Council in their efforts to deliver the long-awaited Navan Rail project. Speaking following a meeting Moore praised the progress made so far but also expressed concern that a shift in government priorities regarding transportation funding could jeopardize the project.
"The commitment shown by both Iarnród Éireann and Meath County Council is clear, with our shared ambition matching the needs of our growing community. However, I am concerned that any potential change in government policy on transportation spending—away from the previous 2:1 ratio in favour of public transport over road investment—could hinder this critical project."
Councillor Moore highlighted that it was only under the previous Programme for Government, which introduced the 2:1 spending commitment in favour of public transport, that real momentum was achieved for Navan Rail. "We must ensure that a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael-Rural Independent coalition government maintains a strong commitment to public transport infrastructure, as this will be crucial to securing the funding necessary to see this project through to completion," he added.
During the meeting with Iarnród Éireann, Councillor Moore asked the representatives about the timeline for moving the project to Approval Gate 1, a key milestone in the Public Spending Code process where the government formally approves the project thus allowing it to proceed to planning. In response, representatives indicated that they anticipate reaching Approval Gate 1 by the end of 2027.
"I was encouraged to hear that Iarnród Éireann has a clear roadmap for Navan Rail, but I am mindful of the fact that this timeline means the project will be competing with many other significant capital investments, such as the Dublin Metro," Councillor Moore noted. "It is imperative that we continue to make the case for Navan Rail as a transformative project for our community and region, ensuring it remains a priority on the national agenda."