Navan rail line 100% certain, says Dempsey
Ann Casey
reports
MINISTER
for Transport Noel Dempsey yesterday (Tuesday) swept aside doubts
expressed by Iarnrod Eireann on Monday about the viability of reopening
the Navan-Dublin rail line and declared that he was "100 per cent"
behind the project.
"It will happen," Mr Dempsey told the Meath Chronicle, hours after the
rail company briefed Meath County councillors that the next phase of
the reopening of the line, costing €578, was "not financially viable"
and "would require the full capital costs to be borne by the
Government".
He said that Iarnrod Eireann`s approach to the project had been
"extremely conservative", and quoted the scoping study which had
clearly stated that the project was a valuable one which would justify
the use of public funds. The minister also said that the company had
taken a very conservative view of projected population figures along
the route using 2002 census figures.
Eighty-five per cent of the forecast population increase would have to
be realised in Navan, Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan before the project
could proceed. "Not only did they use 2002 census figures, but they did
not take into account the projected population growth in Trim, which is
expected to go from 7,000 to 17,000 in 10 to 15 years, and similar
growth in Kells," added Mr Dempsey.
The rate of economic return from the restored rail line is marked in at
four per cent, according to Department of Finance guidelines. Mr
Dempsey said that the rate of return on the Navan-Dublin project would
be 4.6 per cent, "so I have no doubt at all about the viability of it".
The reopening of the line is planned as part of the Government`s
Transport 21 infrastructure programme. The first phase, from Clonsilla
to an interchange with the M3 at Pace, is scheduled to open within two
years.
Iarnrod Eireann has already announced that its preferred route, out of
nine options, would follow the line of the old Navan-Dublin line which
opened in the mid-1800s. A study on the viability of the reopening
revealed that the emerging preferred route would use two-thirds of the
pre-existing line, with an extension to create a station at Navan North
to link up with an existing but now disused Kingscourt line.
Meath on Track, the organisation campaigning for the restoration of the
Navan-Dublin line, said that it was disappointed Iarnrod Eireann had
said the project would not be viable. "That is no surprise since no
rail line in the State is viable, not one fully covers it costs," said
its spokesperson, Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa.
"The reason the company is saying it would not be viable is because it
is maintaining that the initial capital investment would have to be met
out of running costs. What is also unfair is that the figure of €580
million for the project is a 2015 figure," he added.
Also included in the projected cost were fleet acquisition expenses of
€78 million. "However, large parts of the existing network are to be
electrified and all that diesel stock, which could not be used on an
electrified line, would become available for Navan," he added.
The finding of the Iarnrod Eireann study on the Dunboyne to Navan
railway line found that, over a 30-year period, revenue from passengers
would just cover operating costs, leaving no surplus to cover capital
investment.
The study was carried out by Roughan O`Donovan - Faber Maunsell on behalf of Iarnrod Eireann.
However, a meeting of Meath County Council heard on Monday that the
project would be viable under criteria used by the Department of
Finance to evaluate major projects in terms of the wider benefit to the
community and the local economy.
Councillors heard that, in today`s terms, the cost of the line was
estimated at €455 million but, allowing for inflation, this would rise
to €578 million during the construction period in 2010/2013.
Jim O`Donovan of Roughan O`Donovan explained that a route closely
following the old railway line with an extension to a second railway
station in north Navan was the emerging preferred route.
He explained that it was proposed to provide a twin track along the
route, as a single track and passing loops would have insufficient
capacity to provide a reliable service.
Councillors heard that the journey time to Navan would be approximately
one hour with trains every 15 minutes at peak times and stations at
north and central Navan, at Drumree, Kilmessan and Pace, near Dunboyne.
There would be diversions from the old line to avoid the M3 between
Pace and Batterstown and at Drumree to locate the station at the
Dunshaughlin M3 interchange. There would also be diversions west of
Kilmessan and west of Cannistown to avoid existing properties.
The study ruled out routes that would take in Ratoath, Ashbourne and
Dunshaughlin but the emerging preferred route will travel close to
Dunshaughlin. It was estimated that the extension from Pace to Navan
would provide 5,600 additional daily passengers on the line.
Tom Finn, Iarnrod Eireann`s Transport 21 manager, said that 85 per cent
of the current projected population growth was needed to justify the
development of the line and even the slightest dip in population could
have a significant effect on its viability.
He said that 25 per cent of the capital costs could be provided through
development levies with the remainder being sought from the Exchequer.
He said that while the project did meet the guidelines in terms of
economic appraisal, there were a lot of other projects competing for
similar Exchequer funds.
Meanwile, Mr Finn said he was confident that there would be a rail link
from Dublin to Dunboyne in 2010. While a decision on the railway order
for this project wasn`t due until 19th February, he was confident it
would be granted, allowing work on the link to begin by the end of this
year. He said it would take two years to complete and would be
commissioned in 2010.
