“North Drogheda needs a train station. It needs it now. In fact, it should already be in place”

Louth Labour TD Ged Nash has challenged the Minister for Public Transport to work with Irish Rail to deliver a new train station for North Drogheda.

In statements on the All-Island Rail Review in the Dáil on Wednesday, Deputy Nash told the Minister: “I will cut to the chase, Minister. North Drogheda needs a train station. It needs it now. In fact, it should already be in place.

“I was on Louth County Council when we master-planned the north of our small city for an additional 5,000 homes. This included a site for a station. Then came the crash.

“Now, up to half of those homes are built or are in process. There are more to come. We still have no station. When will we ever learn from the way infrastructure is developed in other rich countries?

Deputy Nash added: “The profile of new residents suggests a very high proportion are commuters. Traffic is so bad in the mornings, you’ll be in your car for half an hour traversing the town to get to the existing station.

“We know DART Plus will create capacity issues and that four-tracking with stabling and turning would need to be done at certain locations.

“Mention is made in the review of a new M1 parallel track to Clongriffin. It is an intriguing suggestion and would make sense. However, let’s just get what the review calls the ‘Drogheda East’ station up and running, even with a limited number of services, for now.”

The Louth Labour TD went on to ask the Minster O’Brien: “Can the Minister say if the Drogheda East station is now policy? Will it be delivered?

“Similarly, the review does not mention Dunleer at all. If it’s not in the review, is the prospect of Dunleer being reopened, buried? If that’s the case, the government parties should just come out and say it.”

Following his Dáil statement, Deputy Nash said he would continue to push the Minister and his government to deliver a new station for North Drogheda and push for the re-opening of Dunleer station.