A fresh push has been made in the Dail for the Government to get the proposed new Drogheda North Train Station up and running.
It was made by the local Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne at Leaders Question and at a recent meeting of the powerful Public Accounts Committee, of which she is a member.
She demanded that urgent action be taken to get Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Rail, and Louth County Council into the one room and get the project moving as a matter of urgency.
Deputy Byrne told how Drogheda is in the middle of a population boom especially on the north side of the town and is riddled by traffic jams from people rushing to catch their daily commute from McBride Station on the Dublin Road.
She said:” Government policies have made Drogheda a commuter town and commuters need a new train station on the north side of the town. Almost 20 years ago, a proposed train station was included in the Drogheda northern environs plan. The plan foresaw a huge rise in the population of Drogheda and the need for a train station on the north side.
“The proposed site of the train station was in housing brochures. Commuters eagerly bought houses that were highly valued because they would be so close to the train station, but this changed when Iarnród Éireann said it had no plans to proceed.
“The north side of Drogheda is getting an extra 20,000 people along the port access-northern cross route over the next five years. The centre of town is choked with traffic around the current train station on the south side.
“A new IDA business park is being developed on the north side. Drogheda United is developing a new stadium along the port access-northern cross route. All of this could be served by a north-side train station.
“The land at Aston Village that was originally earmarked is still owned by Iarnród Éireann and this is where the train station should go.
“For Drogheda to reach its full potential, the long-awaited north-side train station is crucial.”
The Taniste and new Minister for Finance Simon Harris told her he would refer the issue to Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.
The Department of Transport representatives at the Public Accounts Committee spoke of everything except the Drogheda North Train Station.
Deputy Byrne said it is not on their radar for at least another five years because they are working on current government priorities. The Tánaiste could not give a detailed response in any way shape or form.
She added:”The reality is the political will to deliver this simply isn’t there within this current Government. Twenty years in the making, no business case, no feasibility study, no drive forward.
“For Drogheda to unlock its full potential, there’s an onus on political reps of all persuasions to push to make this a reality. No obstacle is insurmountable if Government wants to deliver it!”
