The project will introduce a 34-kilometre electrified railway line extending the existing DART network from the M3 Parkway in Meath to new stations at Dunshaughlin, Kilmessan and Navan Central, before terminating at Navan North. The development will also create four new train stations serving the wider region.
Currently, Navan remains the largest town in Ireland without a connection to the national rail network.
Under the proposal, trains will operate every 15 minutes during peak hours between Navan and Connolly Station in Dublin. The full journey is expected to take approximately 60 minutes, with the line capable of carrying up to 4,400 passengers per hour.
Park-and-ride facilities are also planned for stations at Kilmessan, Dunshaughlin and Navan North to improve accessibility for commuters.
Darragh O’Brien, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, described the railway extension from the M3 Parkway to Navan North as a major milestone for the country’s transport network.
The proposed railway route will largely follow the alignment of the original rail line that was closed in 1963, with unused railway corridors expected to be utilised wherever possible. The project is also aimed at improving public transport connectivity for the rapidly growing town of Dunshaughlin and surrounding areas.
A public consultation process on the proposed plans is now underway and will continue until Friday, July 3. Members of the public are invited to submit feedback and observations on the project.
The final planning application is expected to be submitted in 2028, with construction currently scheduled to begin in 2030. However, transport authorities have not provided a definitive completion timeline, citing the scale and complexity of major infrastructure delivery projects in Ireland.
Irish Samachar English News