Hansfield/Dunboyne Rail Line

GREEN LIGHT FOR HANSFIELD/DUNBOYNE RAIL LINE, but LOCAL COUNCILLOR WARNS OF "SLIPPAGE" IN TIMESCALE


An Bord Pleanala has signed the rail order for the re-opening of the first phase of the Clonsilla to Navan rail line. This was the first planning approval granted under the new system by which major infrastructural projects are fast-tracked through the system.

Dublin 15 public representatives welcomed the news, but Labour’s Michael O’Donovan called for the actual construction work to be fast-tracked.

"This is good news for Dublin 15 and particularly for residents of the Ongar/Castaheany area, and indeed for future residents of the planned new villages of Hansfield and Barnhill. We need now to keep up the momentum. The timeline for completion of the first 7.5km of track has already slipped from 2009 to 2010.

There are two other initiatives needed to get best use from this rail spur. We need a good feeder bus service from the various surrounding estates to the new Hansfield station and we need the integrated ticket system to be up and running so that commuters can switch from bus to rail and back to bus or Luas at no extra cost.

We also need the promised park and ride facility on the Navan Road to be in place and operational when the trains start running. This park and ride is planned to hold 1,200 cars and could make a real contribution to easing gridlock on the Navan Road".


Cllr Michael O’Donovan