Route Review
Client: Menolly Developments, Mar - Apr 2009
As part of the Irish Government’s Transport 21 strategy, a number of rail lines are proposed for re-opening. Already under construction is the line from Clonsilla (West of Dublin) to a park and ride site at Pace. However, it is proposed to extend this much further, to Navan, in County Meath, via the town of Dunshauglin. Earlier work had identified a number of options for serving the town, but the route being suggested by Irish Rail had a station to the West of the town, on the far side of a motorway interchange. Various parties had noted that this was not good town planning practice, but a rail planning assessment of the alternatives had not been carried out.
Menolly Developments approached The Railway Consultancy to undertake this analysis, covering engineering, operating and demand forecasting issues. Our colleague David Smith of Thursfield Smith worked with Menolly’s engineers to improve a route which provides a station close in to the North East of the town centre. Whilst there were few operating issues to prefer one route over the other, we also undertook a trip-rate demand forecasting exercise. This demonstrated that the latter route would be expected to have a far higher patronage, and therefore that it could be delivered at no net increase in project cost. A report containing these conclusions was submitted to Meath County Council as part of their planning consultation.
Last updated: Sunday, 18th December 2016
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