Walk and cycle track planned for old Kingscourt rail line

clonmahon

According to Anglo Celt we may soon have a 30 km cycleway on the old Kingscourt to Navan railway. This would be good as the line was in use until recent years, so hopefully it won't be the obstacle course of kissing gates and cattle grids the Great Western Greenway is.

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/features/articles/2011/09/07/4006502-walk-and-cycle-track-planned-for-old-kingscourt-rail-line/

galwaycyclist

Be fabulous hard to beat victorian railway engineers. What are the chances there would be access roads for agricultural traffic along the M3 thst could be linked up to provide an off-road route?

clonmahon

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Be fabulous hard to beat victorian railway engineers. What are the chances there would be access roads for agricultural traffic along the M3 thst could be linked up to provide an off-road route?

Don't know, but there is the Boyne navigation from Navan to Drogheda, this might provide the basis for an extension of the cycleway to Drogheda. Wikipedia says "A number of sections of the towpath are maintained as walking paths, particularly the section from Stackallan Bridge to Navan". Anyone from the Navan Slane area know the state of play with this?

Looks good for a cycleway from this photo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boyne_Navigation_Canal.JPG

clonmahon

Will it be anything like these Dutch cycleways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQhSeMaX3I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OrQ-d2PBUto

That's our problem in the country we do things in a second rate way and then proclaim them to be world class. If a Dutch person who was used to this kind of cycleway visited Mayo and cycled the Greenway they might like the scenery but the cycleway would hardly impress them.

smacl

That's our problem in the country we do things in a second rate way and then proclaim them to be world class. If a Dutch person who was used to this kind of cycleway visited Mayo and cycled the Greenway they might like the scenery but the cycleway would hardly impress them.

+1, cycled the western greenway the weekend before last with the family, and as you say, while the scenery is great the narrow cattle grids and gating are a major drawback. Particularly, if like me and many others I saw down there, you are towing a junior family member. The cattle grids are way too narrow, and gates are laid out with too sharp a turning requirement, really poor design in my opinion. Hopefully the Kingscourt - Navan one will be better, because it would be a great amenity if it was well implemented.

clonmahon

smacl wrote: »

+1, cycled the western greenway the weekend before last with the family, and as you say, while the scenery is great the narrow cattle grids and gating are a major drawback. Particularly, if like me and many others I saw down there, you are towing a junior family member. The cattle grids are way too narrow, and gates are laid out with too sharp a turning requirement, really poor design in my opinion. Hopefully the Kingscourt - Navan one will be better, because it would be a great amenity if it was well implemented.

I didn’t like the hump backed bridges either or the hump backed ridges. Also the place between Westport and Newport where the cycleway crosses the road (at the virgin mary statue) 90 degreee turn, stop, cross the road, 90 degree turn, over a tall humped back ridge and through kissing gates. All of this in about 70 metres, much easier to shoot 70 metre up the road at this point.

CurtisPadd

I'm trying to get more info on this project, any develpoments?

PeadarCo

CurtisPadd wrote: »

I'm trying to get more info on this project, any develpoments?

I think I saw a bit of railway line being cleaned up(Hedges and Grass removed) around Nobber. Only other thing is they will have to replace an old bridge that went over the N52. Other than that no more.

feck sake lads

i walk the drogheda canal fairly often it would be fantastic to see it paved all the way to navan but i suppose i might as well dream here as in bed, never happen :mad:

clonmahon

The Meath Chronicle had an update on Oct 5th, 2011

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/meathnorth/articles/2011/10/05/4006960-funding-boost-for-meaths-walking-and-cycling-trails-/

According to this Meath Co Co have 800,000 euro to spend on walking and cycling routes. And "Iarnrod Eireann is continuing clearance work" on the old line. Seems to be moving but slowly.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy is quoted "Landowners along the route will have an interest in this proposed cycle route and their concerns will have to be addressed in the development of the project,". This I don't get the issue with the Mayo Cycleway was adverse possession which meant all the landowners had to be pandered to and dealt with all of which presumably took time and compromise, no such issue arises here.

clonmahon

Also this very odd idea from the letter page of the Anglo Celt, restore the railway and run both trains and velorail (bikes that run on rails) on the line writes this Anglo Celt reader. Strange.

http://www.anglocelt.ie/opinion/letters/articles/2011/09/14/4006620-letters-to-the-editor/

650Ginge

clonmahon wrote: »

Don't know, but there is the Boyne navigation from Navan to Drogheda, this might provide the basis for an extension of the cycleway to Drogheda. Wikipedia says "A number of sections of the towpath are maintained as walking paths, particularly the section from Stackallan Bridge to Navan". Anyone from the Navan Slane area know the state of play with this?

Looks good for a cycleway from this photo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boyne_Navigation_Canal.JPG

You can cycle this easy enough, hybrid or mtb. It is loose gravel in places. Not sure of the distance but I think 5-6kms one way. Then you arrive in Navan and wonder why to F you bothered. At least if they build the other one you have a way out too.

marketty

650Ginge wrote: »

Then you arrive in Navan and wonder why to F you bothered. At least if they build the other one you have a way out too.

I lol'd ;-)

shamwari

When that railway line was open, it was littered with level crossings for most of its entire length. The implications of this is that you will only be able to cycle modest lengths without having to dismount where the route crosses a road. I have to say though I'm yet to be convinced of the notion of Irish Rail ceeding this line for a cycleway. It'll be interesting to see what come of it though....

clonmahon

shamwari wrote: »

When that railway line was open, it was littered with level crossings for most of its entire length. The implications of this is that you will only be able to cycle modest lengths without having to dismount where the route crosses a road. I have to say though I'm yet to be convinced of the notion of Irish Rail ceeding this line for a cycleway. It'll be interesting to see what come of it though....

Your right about the level crossings, the rail line meets a lot of roads, are they all level crossing or are some of them bridges.

greenmat

clonmahon wrote: »

Will it be anything like these Dutch cycleways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQhSeMaX3I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OrQ-d2PBUto

That's our problem in the country we do things in a second rate way and then proclaim them to be world class. If a Dutch person who was used to this kind of cycleway visited Mayo and cycled the Greenway they might like the scenery but the cycleway would hardly impress them.

Amazing, especially the 2nd video, hundreds of bikes parked in school yard.

bbam

clonmahon wrote: »

According to Anglo Celt we may soon have a 30 km cycleway on the old Kingscourt to Navan railway. This would be good as the line was in use until recent years, so hopefully it won't be the obstacle course of kissing gates and cattle grids the Great Western Greenway is.

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/features/articles/2011/09/07/4006502-walk-and-cycle-track-planned-for-old-kingscourt-rail-line/

Hi folks...
Does anyone know is this project still ongoing..
I know there was one public meeting, have there ben any more?? Sadly I missed the first one...
Like others I've seen some scrub clearance near the level crossings but nothing else... the area so needs an attraction of some sort and this would be an excellant amenity..

clonmahon

This is the latest dated 14th May 2012 from a Meath County Council, a motion was submitted by Councillor Eugene Cassidy:
“That Meath County Council in conjunction with Cavan County Council engage in
further talks with CIE to progress the development of a cycle/greenway along the disused Navan/Kingscourt rail line. I call on Meath County Council to put in place the funds for a feasibility study in order to secure the necessary funding to make this amenity a reality”.

It's still at the pious aspiration stage and going no where fast.

Irish and Proud

clonmahon wrote: »

The Meath Chronicle had an update on Oct 5th, 2011

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/meathnorth/articles/2011/10/05/4006960-funding-boost-for-meaths-walking-and-cycling-trails-/

According to this Meath Co Co have 800,000 euro to spend on walking and cycling routes. And "Iarnrod Eireann is continuing clearance work" on the old line. Seems to be moving but slowly.

Cllr Eugene Cassidy is quoted "Landowners along the route will have an interest in this proposed cycle route and their concerns will have to be addressed in the development of the project,". This I don't get the issue with the Mayo Cycleway was adverse possession which meant all the landowners had to be pandered to and dealt with all of which presumably took time and compromise, no such issue arises here.

+1

To hell with landowners - the land is not theirs - get the damn thing built! :mad:

I think greenways are a great idea - when I used to cycle, I liked the then unopened sections of M1 as there were was no traffic issues en route - all live roads were grade separated - the wind was the only problem. Greenways will IMO do largely the same thing (apart from some level crossings) with less wind issues. Grade separated cycleways are the way to go IMO - especially in rural areas. This way, both motorists and cyclists (and pedestrians) will have their dedicated throughways (motorways and greenways). The other great thing about greenways on former railways are the alignments - flat with straight stretches and gentle bends - what I like as a former cyclist. The now closed Waterford to Rosslare line could also be made a greenway - it would keep that great bridge (over the Barrow?) alive. The uncompleted sections of greenway in Mayo should be pushed through - land owners IMO have way to much power in this country - new powers are needed to deal with same when providing greenways, motorways etc. and railways.

Regards!

Irish and Proud

clonmahon wrote: »

This is the latest dated 14th May 2012 from a Meath County Council, a motion was submitted by Councillor Eugene Cassidy:
“That Meath County Council in conjunction with Cavan County Council engage in
further talks with CIE to progress the development of a cycle/greenway along the disused Navan/Kingscourt rail line. I call on Meath County Council to put in place the funds for a feasibility study in order to secure the necessary funding to make this amenity a reality”.

It's still at the pious aspiration stage and going no where fast.

This >>tender notice<< today! - Feasibility Study - Navan - Kingscourt Greenway/Cycleway Committee...

...there has to be some meat there!

Captain Havoc

Irish and Proud wrote: »

+1

To hell with landowners - the land is not theirs - get the damn thing built! :mad:

I think land owners have a legitimate right to be contacted. They didn't buy land with the intention of having a walking/ cycling path going across their back yards. If you want this to go ahead, then good communication is key, there's probably only one person going to object anyway (there's always one).

Irish and Proud

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I think land owners have a legitimate right to be contacted. They didn't buy land with the intention of having a walking/ cycling path going across their back yards. If you want this to go ahead, then good communication is key, there's probably only one person going to object anyway (there's always one).

Well OK, I was rather strong in my views... While I don't agree with the amount of leverage land owners (especially large land owners) enjoy regarding infrastructural matters in this country (for example, exorbitant compensation demands, blockage of routes such as the resultant omitted sections of greenway in Mayo etc), what you said above is probably the only way to get things done within the current political and social climate in Ireland.

zzap64

Great to hear there has been some progress on this.

It would be great to be able to cycle on it without the worry of cars or dogs hassling and chasing.

Felloffmebike

I regularly cycle the route along the Boyne from Navan to Stackallen on the hybrid. It's very muddy near Stackallen at this time of year and in 2 places you have to throw the bike over a stile. Still it's a lovely area, nice scenery and a bit of crack negotiating what was the old canal towpath. Running it all the way to Drogheda is not easy. The canal path is not all on the same side of the river, it criss crosses a few times. I think I read that the horses that pulled the barges from Drogheda to the old mills in Navan had to be brought across the river on boats at a couple of points. But the big problem is that while the navigation rights of the old canal is owned by An Taisce the land alongside it is mostly in private ownership and the landowners are not all that willing to open it up.

I am hearing of a proposal by a local group to develop a route from Mornington, into Drogheda and out to Oldbridge and possibly Newgrange. That would be good for local tourism.

I believe the Kingscourt/ Navan proposal is at an early stage but that everyone that needs to be involved is committed to it if money can be found. That's the hard bit I guess.

hardCopy

Irish and Proud wrote: »

Well OK, I was rather strong in my views... While I don't agree with the amount of leverage land owners (especially large land owners) enjoy regarding infrastructural matters in this country (for example, exorbitant compensation demands, blockage of routes such as the resultant omitted sections of greenway in Mayo etc), what you said above is probably the only way to get things done within the current political and social climate in Ireland.

It's all about money. If the Greenway had required the cash to CPO the whole route it would never have happened.

As it stands the Greenway paid for itself in under a year.

The gates are a curse but it shouldn't be such an issue on IE owned routes, the Greenway route had been sold off to adjacent landowners over the years.

feck sake lads

Felloffmebike wrote: »

I regularly cycle the route along the Boyne from Navan to Stackallen on the hybrid. It's very muddy near Stackallen at this time of year and in 2 places you have to throw the bike over a stile. Still it's a lovely area, nice scenery and a bit of crack negotiating what was the old canal towpath. Running it all the way to Drogheda is not easy. The canal path is not all on the same side of the river, it criss crosses a few times. I think I read that the horses that pulled the barges from Drogheda to the old mills in Navan had to be brought across the river on boats at a couple of points. But the big problem is that while the navigation rights of the old canal is owned by An Taisce the land alongside it is mostly in private ownership and the landowners are not all that willing to open it up.

I am hearing of a proposal by a local group to develop a route from Mornington, into Drogheda and out to Oldbridge and possibly Newgrange. That would be good for local tourism.

I believe the Kingscourt/ Navan proposal is at an early stage but that everyone that needs to be involved is committed to it if money can be found. That's the hard bit I guess.

cycled that route many a time as well really fantastic and yes it would not be straight forward but then again thats what the council employ engineers for

ugsparky

I'm familiar with this area and the route it takes. I can't be 100% sure about this but I served my time in the Gypsum and this was explained to me.

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&tab=wl. The line started at the Cemora Mine at the bottom of Corgarry Hill - not too far from Dun a Ri forest park and Cabra Castle Hotel.

The railway line ran from the Gypsum Industries mines & factory to Navan and then to Drogheda Port - the old Irish Cement factory on the Boyne Road.

There are quite a few level crossings still in evidence - one as you leave Castletown, another at Wilkinstown crossing the main Navan/Kingscourt road. Not so sure of the Navan/Drogheda route.

This also came up in this thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81512695

There is great potential if this route was developed. Some villages and towns along the way. The Boyne Valley and River Boyne. The N2 from Drogheda to Dundalk and on to the Cooley Peninsular/Ravensdale. The N2 is now relatively quiet since the development of the M1 link and could be incorporated as a cycling route - even linking with a coastal section from Drogheda/Termonfeckin/Clogherhead/Annagassan/Castlebellingham. Some imagination and planning could result in a very good trail.

cllr. eugene cassidy

CIE have agreed to lift the tracks along the line. Part 8 will be summited nent week which will take 8 weeks......good news

marketty

Great to see this making some progress, will be a nice amenity for the area.

zzap64

Indeed. Thanks for the update. Hopefully it'll be done for next summer.