Kingscourt railway line - Photo Survey

NavanJunction1

'Councillor Kelly said he raised the issue of the link for
Cavan in general and Kingscourt in particular. He was delighted with
the reply from Dr. Lynch that Irish Rail was looking at the
possibility of opening the line between Navan and Kingscourt.'

- Anglo-Celt newspaper report on Transport 21 meeting in Navan, 2006

Photo Survey

John R

Navan-Kingscourt re opening as what, A tourist walkway? It certainly isn't deserving of a railway service.

There isn't any population centres on the line at all, there is 12 level crossings though.

The number of level crossings is a great indicator of the low standard of the original line engineering, something this line shares with the WRC north of Tuam (9 Tuam-Claremorris).

Installing 12 modern crossings alone would cost millions as well as the ongoing operating/maintenance costs, replacing them with bridges would cost even more.

NavanJunction1

Well, Dr Lynch has it as a possibility whilst 5 minutes before he held out no hope for Navan-Drogheda.

There you have it.

NavanJunction1

Anglo Celt: Kelly claims rail link to Cavan a possibility
By Michael Cryan, Thu, Feb 16 06

THERE are positive indications of the proposed Navan/Dublin rail link
being extended in to County Cavan according to Cllr. Clifford Kelly.
Speaking at Monday's meeting of Cavan County Council, Cllr. Kelly
referred to a meeting held in Navan, which was attended by Ministers
Dempsey and Cullen along with senior representatives of Irish Rail
including Dr. John Lynch.

He told fellow councillors that Dr. Lynch seemed to be favourably
disposed towards the extension of the Navan line to Kingscourt. Mr.
Kelly complimented the Meath County Manager for an excellent
presentation and it was heartening to hear of the plans to extend the
railway from Dunboyne to Navan.

Continuing, Councillor Kelly said he raised the issue of the link for
Cavan in general and Kingscourt in particular. He was delighted with
the reply from Dr. Lynch that Irish Rail was looking at the
possibility of opening the line between Navan and Kingscourt.

Questions were raised regarding the link from Navan to Drogheda and
Dublin and it was pointed out that this was feasible. The discussion
also covered the possibility of extending the link to Kells.
Councillor Kelly said that if this were to happen then Cavan County
Council should have its proposals prepared to bring the line through
from Kells to Cavan town.

He called for the Kingscourt line to be re-opened and he said the
council should be joining with Meath to accelerate the establishment
of these rail links. Cllr. Kelly said that he was disappointed that
there were only a few people from Cavan at the presentation as it was
of the utmost importance for the county.


Councillor Andrew Boylan said he was not aware of the meeting. He
added that an invitation should have been sent out to public
representatives. Mr. Boylan suggested that the Cavan County Manager
and chairman should meet with the Meath Manager and discuss the rail
link to Cavan.

Transport21 Fan

There is absolutely no reason in the world to reopen this branch since ILDA and the Mighty Quinn killed it. In terms of viability it ranks below that of the northern half of the Western Rail Corridor.

Which is saying something.

Transport21 Fan

Interesting photos there NavanJunction. The line has rotted away to bits in such a short time, it is indeed remarkable. What a mess, but hardly surprising as the line serves no purpose anymore. Shame to see Kingscourt Station like that - a fine victorian building with nice brickwork. It's like the railways in the old East Germany from the late 1990's with the ruined state-owned industrial monoliths at the end of rural branchlines. Really goes to show how Ireland has changed in recent years.

Thinking about it further, maybe Lynch is referring to the Interconnector works (if they happen). The spoil from the tunnel has to be dumped somewhere and you have to wonder if this is what he is talking about. Can't think of any other reason to reopen the Kingscourt branch.

NavanJunction1

Transport21 Fan wrote:

Thinking about it further, maybe Lynch is referring to the Interconnector works (if they happen). The spoil from the tunnel has to be dumped somewhere and you have to wonder if this is what he is talking about. Can't think of any other reason to reopen the Kingscourt branch.

What sparked my interest was that Dr. Lynch was much more positive about Kingscourt than Navan-Drogheda.

I couldn't figure out how a working railway with a journey time of just over an hour to Dublin could be given a lower priority than a line without centres of population.

It might be revived as a freight link, who knows, but the number of level crossings alone would kill it whilst being seriously considered for passeneger traffic.

It's a pity though that the message that really comes out of this is that there really doesn't seem to be any genuine interest in commuter rail services to Meath.

It's a political game to the likes of Dr. Lynch by the looks of it.

loyatemu

The line has rotted away to bits in such a short time, it is indeed remarkable.

i think it was in bits even when it was in freight use - didn't it have a 20mph speed limit?

Victor

NavanJunction1 wrote:

Well, Dr Lynch has it as a possibility whilst 5 minutes before he held out no hope for Navan-Drogheda.

Different constituency.

John R

NavanJunction1 wrote:

Well, Dr Lynch has it as a possibility whilst 5 minutes before he held out no hope for Navan-Drogheda.

A local politician says that Dr Lynch has it as a possibility.

Even the most rabid anti-CIE lot aren't going to seriously claim that they would open Navan-Kingscourt ahead of Dublin-Navan or even Drogheda-Navan.

As per usual the politician is saying whatever he thinks will scrounge up some votes in his locality, as Kingscourt happens to be his patch only that bit interests him.

The thought has probably never occoured to him that developing a successfull line to Navan from Dublin would be far more beneficial to the communities of North Meath than a useless rural line with only cows within walking distance.

NavanJunction1

John R wrote:

A local politician says that Dr Lynch has it as a possibility.

Even the most rabid anti-CIE lot aren't going to seriously claim that they would open Navan-Kingscourt ahead of Dublin-Navan or even Drogheda-Navan.

As per usual the politician is saying whatever he thinks will scrounge up some votes in his locality, as Kingscourt happens to be his patch only that bit interests him.

The thought has probably never occoured to him that developing a successfull line to Navan from Dublin would be far more beneficial to the communities of North Meath than a useless rural line with only cows within walking distance.

Unfortunately, I witnessed this announcement..

dowlingm

Lynch has to play the game but it will all come down to what Dick Fearn told the Oireachtas Committee - give us the money and we'll build whatever you want.