Strategic Rail Review to include Kingscourt line

The Kingscourt Rail Line will be reviewed along with improved connectivity to the border region as part of the Strategic Rail Review, the Minister for Transport has confirmed.

In a parliamentary response in the Dáil on Thursday to Deputy Niamh Smyth, Minister Eamon Ryan advised that the Kingscourt Rail line will be looked at "as will the border region”.

The Fianna Fáil deputy has been pushing the need for the reopening of rail lines to help connectivity to Dublin for Cavan Monaghan commuters, whilst also helping Ireland meet its responsibilities during the climate crisis. Deputy Smyth invited Minister Ryan to walk part of the Kingscourt line to see its potential for himself.

The strategic review is expected to be completed by the end of the year, which is expected to bring clarity to the potential of reopening the Kingscourt line.

Minister Ryan explained that as well as inter-regional rail connectivity and the potential for high-/higher speeds, the Strategic Rail Review will also consider improved connectivity to the North West and the border region including Cavan and Monaghan.

Part of the Kingscourt Rail line will be utilised over a short distance to connect the proposed Navan Central Station and proposed Navan North Station. This project is part of the National Transport Authorities review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area which recommended the development of a rail line to Navan.

“The Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades," explained Minister Ryan.

Minister Eamon Ryan was clearly enthusiastic about the potential of further extending the Navan line, and noted that it had originally went from Kingscourt on to Omagh and Derry. However he noted that capital was the constraining factor and other areas also had rail plans. He said from a funding perspective they had already committed to the Connecting Ireland enhanced bus services for rural Ireland and it would take priority.

"I will work tirelessly to have Kingscourt included in this. This is something the Border Region needs and something I have been pressing since I was elected to the Dáil in 2016.”