Pictue: Senator Comyn with CEO of Iarnród Éireann, Mary Considine
Senator Alison Comyn says the proposed North Drogheda railway station now needs a clear funding and delivery pathway following a meeting with senior Iarnród Éireann executives.
The Fianna Fáil Senator met Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Mary Considine and Head of Transformation Michael Power to discuss the proposal for a second railway station serving communities on the north side of Drogheda.
Comyn described the meeting as “really encouraging” and said she believed there was support within Iarnród Éireann for progressing the idea.
“The message I took from that meeting was very clear. There is a strong commitment within Iarnród Éireann to delivering a North Drogheda Railway Station. That’s hugely significant, because we now need to turn that commitment into a clear pathway towards delivery,” Senator Comyn said.
Iarnród Éireann has previously said there were no specific funded plans for a north Drogheda station, but that it would engage with parties bringing forward proposals and with Louth County Council as development plans progress.
Senator Comyn with Head of Transformation, Michael Power
Focus turns to funding
Comyn said growth on the north side of Drogheda strengthened the case for additional rail infrastructure.
“The housing is there, thousands more homes are planned and the supporting infrastructure is being put in place. The sheer volume of housing and new residents on the north side of the town would almost warrant a railway station of its own, never mind the existing pressure on transport infrastructure in an emerging city like ours.”
She said the next stage should involve Government, the National Transport Authority, Iarnród Éireann, Louth County Council and other relevant bodies examining how a station could be funded.
“This is going to require creative thinking. We need to examine housing infrastructure funding, development levies and every other potential funding stream. The important thing now is getting everyone around the table and finding a way to make it happen.”
Comyn has raised the need for a second Drogheda station previously, including in the Seanad, where she highlighted pressure on the existing MacBride Station and parking difficulties for commuters.
Wider rail investment
The proposal comes as significant rail investment is already planned for the Drogheda corridor.
Iarnród Éireann says new battery-electric DART trains are due to begin operating on the Drogheda route in the first half of 2027, with 285 new DART carriages currently on order.
DART+ Coastal North, which will extend DART services to Drogheda, has also received a Railway Order.
Investment is also continuing on the wider Dublin-Belfast rail corridor. The Government says the replacement Enterprise fleet forms part of a €698 million cross-border investment programme, while the hourly Belfast-Dublin service is supported through the Shared Island Fund.
Comyn said a new station on the north side of Drogheda could allow growing communities to benefit more directly from those improvements.
“Drogheda is Ireland’s largest town and continues to grow rapidly. We can’t build thousands of homes and then start thinking about the transport infrastructure people need after they’ve moved in,” she said.
“A North Drogheda station would give thousands of residents direct access to rail, reduce pressure on roads and parking and allow communities on the north side to benefit properly from the DART extension and future improvements to Enterprise services.
“We have an opportunity to plan this properly now, alongside the housing and infrastructure already being developed.
“Iarnród Éireann has demonstrated its commitment. Now we need the funding and collective will to match it. I’ll continue pushing to get all of the relevant stakeholders around the table and move North Drogheda Railway Station towards delivery.”
