Fianna Fáil Senator Alison Comyn has said plans for a second railway station on Drogheda’s northside are moving forward following what she described as a positive and constructive meeting with Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Erin McGreehan, Louth County Council CEO David Conway and Drogheda and District Chamber CEO Hubert Murphy, and focused on a number of key infrastructure priorities for County Louth.
These included the Port Access Northern Cross Route, a proposed bridge over the railway line, the northside railway station for Drogheda, the Ardee Bypass, M1 tolling and active travel.
Senator Comyn has been raising the need for a second railway station since entering the Seanad and said the latest meeting marked an important step forward, with the Minister indicating that the proposal makes a lot of sense.
This was a very important and constructive engagement with the Minister, and I’m encouraged by the positive response to the proposals put forward, particularly in relation to the northside railway station and funding for Phase 3 of the PANCR. There is a clear understanding now of just how critical these projects are for Drogheda and the wider Louth area,” she said.
I have been raising the need for a second railway station since I entered the Seanad, and I will continue to push for its delivery. With the level of growth we are seeing, this is not something that can be delayed any further, it is essential infrastructure.
The meeting is being seen as a key milestone in progressing long standing transport projects in the region, with renewed momentum around improving infrastructure in Drogheda and across Louth.
We discussed creative funding streams for both the road project, bridge and the railway station, with examples in other parts of the country setting precedents for projects like this, said Senator Comyn.
We also explored viable and practical solutions to ongoing concerns around M1 tolls and the penalty entering Drogheda, an issue which continues to impact commuters and businesses across the region.
The Minister was also briefed on the growing pressure on local infrastructure due to the continued expansion of Drogheda and the wider Louth area, particularly in terms of transport and connectivity.
The proposed northside railway station, along with the completion of the Port Access Northern Cross Route, is seen as key to reducing congestion, improving access for commuters and supporting future growth.
The people of Louth deserve investment that matches the pace of development in our communities, she added. I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure these projects move from discussion to delivery and will next meet with Minister for Housing James Browne to follow up on the funding application for the bridge, under the €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF).
