Navan rail campaigners welcome new Spencer Dock Rail Station
meath |
environment |
press release 
Sunday March 12, 2006 20:24
by Meath on Track
www.meathontrack.com
New station will remove capacity constraints for Navan rail services by 2008
Rail campaigners in Meath have welcomed the commencement of works on the new Spencer Dock station in Dublin's Docklands. The Spencer Dock station is is designed to be a terminus for rail services from the reinstated Navan railway line as well as Maynooth commuter rail services.
Meath suffers from some of the most chronic traffic congestion in the country. Many living in Meath are unable to work in Meath due the absence of employment opportunities in the county - consequently traffic levels in the county are rising year on year.
Until now, lack of capacity in Dublin has been one of the major impediments to reopening the Navan line to Dublin as Connolly Station would not be able to cope with increases in commuter services.
Rail campaigners in Meath have welcomed the commencement of works on the new Spencer Dock station in Dublin's Docklands. The Spencer Dock station is is designed to be a terminus for rail services from the reinstated Navan railway line as well as Maynooth commuter rail services.
Commenting on the announcement, a Meath on Track spokesperson stated that the removal of the capacity contraints in 2008 means that Navan can be reconnected to the Dublin railway network from 2008 onwards if the Navan rail project is fast tracked.
Under Transport 21, Navan is not due to have it's railway reinstated until 2015. According to a Meath on Track spokesperson "it took less than 3 years originally to build the 26 mile Navan line by hand, with picks and shovels. Work commenced in October 1859, and was completed in August 1862. Reinstatement of the old allignment should not take 10 years now."
Commute times from Navan to Dublin currently stand at up to 2.5 hours for the trip by road, whilst a train depending on the number of stops would take approximately 42 - 49 minutes.
In addition, reopening the rail link to Navan would remove more than 4,000 cars per hour from the N3 during peak times. Navan & Meath needs rail now, not 2015.
Comments (17 of 17)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17Previous news release are available at the below link.
Is it true that Meath county council have put a pipeline down the middle of the rail allignment? If so, will it cost much to move the pipeline and does it block the allignment?
There has been a sewerage pipeline (the new Skane Valley Scheme aka Dunshaughlin Sewerage Scheme) placed on / along the allignment.
In the photo above, the people in the picture are actually standing on a manhole cover from the pipe.
Meath County Council have said that the pipeline only compromises a very short section of the old rail allignment though it does run for several miles along side it.
The pipeline will have to be moved at this section most likely or a new allignment found. Although the pipeline was built in 2001, it didn't breach the county development plan protect the allignment as it predated it in the sense it was designed 1999 if I remember rightly
Extract from Evening Herald story breaking the news that new Navan rail terminus does not even have planning permission:
Cullen's 'PR stunt' is derailed by locals
Planning row: Minister claimed work on new station had begun
By Cormac Murphy, 14.03.06
Transport Minister Martin Cullen was today accused of a publicity stunt for announcing the start of works on a railway station that has not got planning permission.
Minister Cullen announced last week that work had commenced on a new E28m docklands railway station - but Iarnród Éireann has yet to submit a planning application.
While work on laying the tracks can begin immediately, planning approval is needed for the actual building, a spokesman for the rail company told the Evening Herald.
He said it is intended that an application will be lodged with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority this week.
PERMISSION
A spokesman for Minister Cullen acknowledged planning permission has yet to be secured, but added that 'we're interested in delivering - that's why we're moving on (the station)'.
Dismissing the announcement as a 'publicity stunt', a residents group in East Wall also criticised Iarnród Éireann for not giving locals enough notice about a public information meeting about the station plan.
I take it that that means no work is actually happening at present apart from reconfiguring track? How can the government announce construction on a new station if it doesn't have any planning permission?
Also I believe that the station has moved 250m and is no longer in Spencer Dock - it is now in Sheriff Street.
Local residents will want to participate in the planning process - the plan up to now was connectivity between the Luas docklands extension and Spencer Dock. Now that Spencer Dock is actually that only and name, and is now going to really be Sheriff St station there are questions.
There will be a 250m open air walk from the unplanning permissioned Sheriff St station and the extension of the Tallaght line into the Docks.
Would you like to be walking alone in that area with a few jars on you at 11pm at night to get your train home?
It's not knocking anyone, just pointing out that integration is out the window
Have Irish Rail submitted plans yet, and where is it possible to view them?
I've checked. No plans have been submitted yet for the station, yet it's nearly 2 weeks since the announcement.
www.meathontrack.com
www.platform11.org
It will be 2 full weeks tomorrow. I am going to find out if there has to be a public enquiry with this or if it is simply a matter of planning permission.
Since the station has moved 250m away from the Luas dock lands extension, there is no way it can any longer be considered integrated, which flies in the face of government claims and stated policy.
I wouldn not be surprised if there where some objections based on the lack of integration. Some of the land where the station was supposed and expected to be located has probably been sold off to developers.
First we have the most expensive tunnel in the world leaking like a sieve. Then we have an aquatic centre that's roof blows off in a strong wind. Then the tracks come off the Luas.
Finally we have finally arrived at the situation where the government isnt even bothering to get planning permission for major projects - good on ye boys.. Keep screwing the public purse
Any sign of plans being submitted?
Nothing has been submitted yet as far as we know. It'll be posted as soon as we find out.
Re promised integration with Luas, we are also trying to get more info on that.
Work starts on first new City Centre Rail Station in 116 years - Brady
[from Fianna Fáil website]
The turning of the sod for the new Spencer Dock Rail Station this morning marks a landmark day for Transport 21 as it will be the first railway station to be built in the city centre since Tara St in 1890, according to Fianna Fáil Senator, Cyprian Brady.
08:00 09/03/2006
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“The new €30 million Spencer Dock Station is a key link in the National Transport Plan. The Station links the North Inner City firmly into the plan. It will have rail links to the Maynooth and Navan Line and will link into the LUAS network through the planned extension of the Red Line.”
“In addition Spencer Dock will ease the pressure on the nearby Connolly Station, allowing for extra services to operate from there.”
“The development of Rail, LUAS and METRO is essential if we are to free up our communities from gridlock The turning of the sod is the first major sign in the North Inner City that Transport 21 is becoming reality.”
“The building of the station will greatly improve access to the Docklands and will make the area more attractive for further investment and jobs. Following this mornings ceremony I will again be asking the Minister for Transport to ensure that the Inner City aspects of Transport 21 are delivered at the earliest possible date”, concluded Senator Brady.
http://www.fiannafail.ie/page.php4?topic=118&id=5496&na...0News
Have any plans been submitted yet. I cant believe that the Minister for Transport had a sod turning ceremony for what was billed as Dublins first new station in over a hundered years with even getting planning permission
Hey Mr anyupdate guy
www.meathontrack.com or
www.platform11.org
for updates there plenty of knowledgeable citizens there that will tell when anything happens and more
Plans have been submitted. The planning process shouldn't only take very long.
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