Irish Rail is to proceed with the necessary planning permission for the second phase of the Navan Rail line following the selection of the preferred route , it has been announced. The preferred option for the €500m second phase of the Navan rail line has been confirmed following the assessement of two different routes by Iarnrod Éireann. Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey announced this week that ‘route A’ option past Dunshaughlin had been chosen for the rail extension. Work is already underway on the €160m first phase of the rail link to Pace, near Clonee and Dunboyne and is on target to open in the autumn of next year. Announcing the plans, Minister Dempsey said: “This Government is 100% committed to the delivery of the new Navan Rail line. “I believe that it makes sense even in these times of major economic constraint to continue planning and delivering better public transport alternatives for hard-pressed commuters.” He added: “I am now keen to get construction on phase two of this line from Pace to Navan underway as quickly as possible.” Construction is due to commence in 2012, for completion by 2015. Irish Rail recently submitted the feasibility study on phase two of the Navan rail line to the Department of Transport. The study examined two possible routes in great detail - an option A which runs along the original railway alignment and an option B which is a new route to the east of Dunshaughlin. The feasibility study concluded option A as the preferred option. |
