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Navan Junction · 23-01-2008, 10:37

This weeks Meath Chronicle

Wrong route with railway

(Editor, Meath Chronicle)

Dear sirs - So a senior Iarnrod Eireann manager has been removed from his post following his expressions of concern around the financial viability of reopening the railway from Pace to Navan (Meath Chronicle 19th Jan). Surely the real question however is why the group tasked with producing this report failed to recommend a route which could add in excess of 60 per cent to the catchment population of the line and so increase its viability. I`m speaking of the area to the east of the original alignment in South Meath, in particular the towns of Ratoath and Ashbourne. The combined population of these towns in the 2006 census was 15,777 persons in comparison to the 24,851 of Navan. With all public transport projects one of the primary concerns to the Department of Finance is not only the initial capital cost but the ongoing subvention levels required. In order to minimise that subvention it is necessary to maximise the railway`s catchment. If the railway is not to serve this area then it is difficult to see how it can be justified. Indeed a cheaper and more expedient solution using the freight-only branch from Drogheda should perhaps be re-examined.

Yours,
Mark Healy,
Alderbrook Heath,
Ashbourne.

23-01-2008, 10:37	#109
Navan Junction Really Regular Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Navan Posts: 305	This weeks Meath Chronicle Wrong route with railway (Editor, Meath Chronicle) Dear sirs - So a senior Iarnrod Eireann manager has been removed from his post following his expressions of concern around the financial viability of reopening the railway from Pace to Navan (Meath Chronicle 19th Jan). Surely the real question however is why the group tasked with producing this report failed to recommend a route which could add in excess of 60 per cent to the catchment population of the line and so increase its viability. I`m speaking of the area to the east of the original alignment in South Meath, in particular the towns of Ratoath and Ashbourne. The combined population of these towns in the 2006 census was 15,777 persons in comparison to the 24,851 of Navan. With all public transport projects one of the primary concerns to the Department of Finance is not only the initial capital cost but the ongoing subvention levels required. In order to minimise that subvention it is necessary to maximise the railway`s catchment. If the railway is not to serve this area then it is difficult to see how it can be justified. Indeed a cheaper and more expedient solution using the freight-only branch from Drogheda should perhaps be re-examined. Yours, Mark Healy, Alderbrook Heath, Ashbourne.