‘People of Meath have waited long enough’ – Concerns raised over Navan rail line timeline as railway order faces delay
The long-awaited Navan Rail line in Meath will face a further delay after Iarnród Éireann confirmed that the Railway Order for the project will now be submitted by the end of 2027, rather than in 2026 as originally planned.
Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O’Rourke, expressed “disappointment” following an exchange with Mary Considine, CEO of Iarnród Éireann, at the Oireachtas Transport Committee.
“The confirmation from Mary Considine, CEO of Iarnród Éireann, that the Railway Order for the Navan Rail line will now be submitted by the end of 2027, and not in 2026 as previously committed, is a setback for the project and for the people of Meath. It is very disappointing,” he said.
Mr O’Rourke said that 21 months ago, in January 2024, the Oireachtas Committee was given a “clear timeline” for a 2026 submission. He described the delay as “deeply frustrating” and a risk to public confidence.
“While Iarnród Éireann states that physical works are slated to begin from 2030, as per the current strategy, any delay at the initial planning and approval stage risks creating a domino effect, pushing the entire project further into the future,” he said.
“Our concern is that after the long-awaited Railway Order is finally secured, there could be a further period of downtime before construction begins due to funding or prioritisation issues,” he added.
“The Navan Rail line is an essential piece of public transport infrastructure that is critical to addressing congestion, supporting sustainable development, and connecting County Meath properly with the capital and elsewhere,” he said.
The project, which aims to deliver a new rail link of approximately 40 km between the terminus at M3 Parkway (north of Dunboyne) and the town of Navan, will provide direct services to Dublin city centre.
In 2024, the project entered its early phase of development, with consultants appointed and the scope and route option selection process underway.
According to the National Transport Authority (NTA), the total project cost could reach up to €2–3bn, with delivery projected between 2030 and 2035.
Urging the government and state agencies to act with urgency, Mr O’Rourke said: “I have called on Iarnród Éireann to take every possible step to shorten these timelines. Furthermore, it is imperative that the Government provides the necessary multi-annual capital funding in the forthcoming revised National Development Plan to ensure that once the Railway Order is granted, this project can proceed directly to construction without any further delay.”
“The people of Meath have waited long enough,” Mr O’Rourke added.