Irish Rail have told local TD Ged Nash that they have no plans to provide a new train station in North Drogheda but it is willing to listen to any proposals the government may have.
Deputy Nash has called on the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, and the National Transport Agency (NTA) to “pull their collective fingers out” on delivering a new train station for the rapidly-expanding population on the northside of Drogheda.
“This is a vitally important issue for the future growth of Drogheda” Nash said, adding that he was bitterly disappointed by the response from Irish Rail.
“Irish Rail lays out in its letter, three criteria that must be met to see a new train station approved.
“First, the proposal must have the support of the Department of Transport and the NTA and I fail to see why such an obvious infrastructural need for the future of our town would fail to win that support.
“Secondly, Irish Rail say the proposal must have a ‘robust’ business case. The northside of Drogheda is to expand its population by some 20,000 over the next few years. A town of that size anywhere else in the country would need a rail link to be sustainable and north Drogheda is no different.
“Thirdly, Irish Rail says the project would have to undergo a ‘full demand assessment’ which again, I have no doubt this growth area in our town would have no trouble passing with flying colours.”
“Irish Rail have laid out the conditions and I have no doubt they can all be met but disappointingly the rail company says it is not aware of any efforts to progress the project.
“For this, the responsibility lies with government. We need to learn from the mistakes of the past and we cannot and should not have to retrofit crucial economic and social infrastructure like transport links, parks, school and playing pitches into North Drogheda only after thousands of homes are built.
“Government and the relevant authorities must commit to this now and do some future-planning and future proofing for Drogheda.”
Deputy Nash said: “Irish Rail did offer a crumb of comfort and said it is willing to listen to proposals for a rail station in this area of Drogheda and says it will not carry out any work that would preclude that from happening in the future.
“It does insist that the project must be funded by a third party and that is where the government, through the Department of Transport and the relevant State agency, the NTA must now step in to this process and deliver this vital piece of transport infrastructure for the fastest growing area of our town.”
