Irish Rail ‘not doing the people of Drogheda and Louth any service’ if they don’t engage on new station calls
The Drogheda Independent”Irish Rail are not taking us seriously,” a meeting of Louth councillors heard this week, as claims emerged that train stations in Dundalk and Drogheda are “utterly overwhelmed.”
Calls for action to address rail capacity issues at both stations were sounded at the December meeting of Louth County Council.
Cllr. Kevin Callan, Cllr. Paddy McQuillan and Cllr. Declan Power submitted a joint motion asking for Louth County Council to: “formally enter into communications with Irish Rail to approach the possible provision of a Drogheda Northern Environs located train station to replicate a similar approach taken by Limerick City Council and County Council.”
It was highlighted that in Limerick the council took a “collaborative approach with Irish Rail for the granting of planning permission on lands for Moyross station.”
Cllr. Declan Power said the approach taken in Limerick was "not accidental, but was strategic and ambitious” and the result has benefitted not just Moyross, but the wider region.
He said the national transport plan needs to be advanced in order to allow Louth County Council to engage with Irish Rail to progress plans for the new station.
Housing growth meant that Drogheda was emerging as a “regional economic driver”, said Cllr. Power.
He acknowledged calls from other councillors for the reopening of Dunleer train station, which he said would be of huge benefit to the mid-Louth area.
There was “growing recognition right across this chamber that rail infrastructure must be revisited,” he added.
Improvements to rail services in Louth should also be viewed “through the lens of the M1 Dublin-Belfast Corridor, one of the most economically significant corridors on this island."
A north Drogheda train station would also open up the town as a gateway location, and deliver real benefits well beyond the town itself, and across County Louth,” said Cllr. Power.
Cllr. Callan said: “We are a small county, and the station in Drogheda is utterly overwhelmed, and has been for years.”
Passengers using the station are from mid-Louth, east Meath and other parts of the region, said Cllr. Callan.
"If we are promoting Louth as key part of the cross border M1 Corridor we just can’t go on as we are.”
Both train stations in Louth, Dundalk and Drogheda, were beyond capacity at this point, he added.
Cllr. McQuillan said Irish Rail own lands that can be developed in Drogheda, which would be easily accessible.
Cllr. Dolores Minogue said the reopening of Dunleer should be included as part of the collaborative approach taken by Louth County Council.
Cllr. Anne Marie Ford added that all stakeholders need to be involved to advance the proposed new Drogheda station.
Cllr. James Byrne said it was important to note that Louth County Council does recognise the need for a new railway station in north Drogheda.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Sean Kelly said the council’s Corporate Policy Group (CPG) have called for a special meeting with Irish Rail to discuss all of the concerns raised in Louth.
Cllr. Michelle Hall added: “We need to be very strong and vocal with Irish Rail, as up to this point I don’t think they are taking us very seriously. We need to keep at them as they are not doing the people of Drogheda and County Louth any service whatsoever when they are looking to put in the Dart + but are not improving rail services.”
Cllr. Shane McGuinness said it was important to “have all the data ready, all the information about how many people are actually going to be in Louth.”
He added: “We have a new Louth GAA stadium being built in south Dundalk, and a new university in Dundalk, so collectively we need to look at the best location for a new station.”
Louth County Council said it will “engage with Iarnród Éireann in advancing the objective as contained in the County Development Plan, including a new rail station for North Drogheda.”