Irish Rail to issue report on future of disued train station in south Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Officials from Irish Rail are currently finalising a pre-feasibility report into the potential reopening of Avoca train station.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) had provided funding to the rail operator in 2022 to undertake a preliminary review into the possibility of reopening the station on the Dublin to Rosslare line, between Rathdrum and Arklow in the south Wicklow area.

The pre-feasibility study has been taking place over the last two years and is considering, amongst other things, the potential passenger demand, stopping patterns, engineering feasibility and the high-level cost estimates associated with the potential reopening of the station.

The study is ultimately looking to identify the merits of further progressing the project through the relevant planning stages and whether there is likely to be a reasonable economic case to support the scheme.

Currently there is no commitment to proceed with the reopening of Avoca Station.

The pre-feasibility study is the first stage in a multi-phase process which applies to all transport infrastructure schemes handled by the NTA.

Social Democrats Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has been calling for the decommissioned train station to be reopened for some time, raising it first in the Dáil in June 2021 with then Transport Minister Eamon Ryan as part of a wider discussion on expanding the existing rail network in Wicklow.

During that debate Deputy Whitmore said having access to a train from the village would help take more cars off the road and offer a cheaper alternative for people living in the area.

“The infrastructure is there. The rail line is there, and we need to build on it. It takes years to put in these plans and people are suffering now. People have long commutes and are being forced further and further away from their workplaces and families. They need access to public transport services, and our environment needs that as well.”

“The best bang for our buck would be using the infrastructure we have in place, such as the rail line.” she added.

The station closed in 1964, but the large increase in residents commuting to and from Dublin each day has heightened the pressure for transport bosses to reconsider its reopening.

A separate feasibility study published in 2021 also highlighted the benefits of reopening the nearby station in Glenealy which also closed in the mid 1960’s.

The study found if the station was to resume services for passengers it could generate potential tourism, open up Glenealy to commuters as well as benefiting potential job creation and help facilitate the need for housing.

Car parking would be included within the scheme and a possible alternative exit route could also be facilitated to allow quick access to the centre of the village.

The NTA has confirmed the reopening of Glenealy station is not being considered in the short to medium term and is subject to funding becoming available.

However Irish Rail are currently working on the development and evaluation of potential solutions to enhance capacity on the Wicklow rail line, with the aim of identifying a preferred option.

It is expected that the outcome of that work will be published during the coming months.