Tap the words “Drogheda to Navan by train” into Google and the first site that pops up is virail.ie which says: “the journey from Drogheda to Navan by train is 23.19 km and takes 1 hr 33 mins. There are 20 connections per day, with the first departure at 05:54 and the last at 22:10.” Odd that, especially when you consider that there hasn’t been a passenger service on the line for many decades!
One man who hopes that this will change sooner rather than later is Brian Hanratty who says that, given the huge delays and costs associated with establishing a direct Navan-Dublin rail service, the reinstatement of passenger services on the existing Drogheda-Navan line makes a lot of sense.
He says that it offers an almost immediate solution for a much needed rail service for Navan and Duleek, capitalising on the planned increased frequency of DART+ trains between Dublin and Drogheda which is scheduled to commence in 2025.
He says it would also offer an enhanced service for all rail commuters between Navan, Duleek, Drogheda, Dublin, Belfast and services across the island.
Mr. Hanratty says this rail line should be known as “The Boyne Valley Railway,” which would serve not just commuters travelling to or from Navan; Drogheda; Dundalk or Dublin but also tourists and leisure travellers.
“As well as connecting with the planned high frequency of DART+ trains between Drogheda and Dublin and northbound services, the Boyne Valley Railway would play an important role for Irish and foreign leisure travellers” he said.
“For example, on the completion of the Boyne Greenway, visitors could walk or cycle the route and then take the train for the return journey.”
Hanratty points out that “Drogheda and Navan are already important public transport hubs in the North East and reinstating the rail line would reduce car and road dependency on the part of many workers and students in the Greater Drogheda and Navan catchment areas.
“While Louth and Meath are located on the strategically important Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor, public transport links running East-West between the two counties lack a passenger rail service. Reinstating the Navan-Drogheda line as the Boyne Valley Railway would be good for commuters; visitors and businesses alike.”
“The campaign to secure a direct Navan-Dublin rail service has been ongoing for several decades, with slow progress being made with successive Governments (Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey launched the initial programme of works in 2008). At this stage, that proposal could cost upwards of one billion euro or more and could take years to deliver.
“With DART+ bringing an imminent improvement to the frequency of rail services between Drogheda and Dublin, and the fact that the Navan-Drogheda line has been providing a freight service for Tara Mines for several years a much more modest capital investment on the Boyne Valley Railway would secure a new generation of rail commuters.
As well as stops at the station in central Navan; Duleek and Drogheda, new stops could be created close to the Drogheda Retail Park and the many businesses located in the Donore Road area, while another could be located close to Johnstown in Navan.
Brian also highlighted the need to urgently create local jobs in the era of climate change when so many students and workers in both the Greater Drogheda and Navan catchment areas are compelled to travel distances for employment and Third Level education – creating a real economic, environmental and social burden on those families and their communities, as well as depriving others less fortunate due to the costs involved.
Brian sees expanding public transport services – including the reinstatement of the Navan-Drogheda line and renaming it “The Boyne Valley Railway” – as a critical component of the forthcoming Joint Local Area Plan being developed by Louth and Meath County Council for the Greater Drogheda Region and the group is encouraging individuals as well as community, business and tourism groups to make a submission (at no charge) before the March 27th deadline. Full details are on both the Louth and Meath Co. Council websites.
“We are also advocating that the Drogheda North Railway Station be put firmly back on the agenda,” said Brian, adding “the new station would facilitate growth in rail traffic, displacing car usage, and would have huge appeal not just in Drogheda, but in mid-Louth too.
“However, those in Government Departments and State agencies have to think much more about creating conditions for a “reverse commute.” Up to now, all the focus has been on getting people from the Greater Drogheda and Navan catchments to Dublin.
“As Navan continues to grow and Drogheda evolves into Ireland’s next city, we need to create employment and educational facilities here locally for our citizens.”
The National Transport Authority has said that “…in line with the National Development Plan, and as noted within the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, the Navan rail line is phased for delivery post 2030.”
