FIRST TRAIN ARRIVES IN DUNBOYNE

Meath East TD Mary Wallace joined Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Cllr Noel Leonard yesterday (4th August 2010) for one of the first driver training runs on the new Clonsilla to Dunboyne Railway Line.

The 7.5KM Clonsilla to Dunboyne railway line will open for passengers in september following a 3-4 week driving training and safety sign off period.. The new line will branch off the Maynooth line at Clonsilla and serve Dunboyne and M3 Parkway Station, a major park and ride station at the interchange with the M3 north of Dunboyne.

Service pattern upon opening will be at half hourly intervals and the infrastructure will allow for greater frequency as demand increases.

The train will travel from Dunboyne to the Docklands station via Clonsilla, Coolmine, Castleknock, Pheonix Park, Ashtown, and Broombridge.. The Journey time from Dunboyne to Dublin will be as little as 27 minutes at peak. The price of an adult day return ticket to Dublin will be €4.20 and a weekly rolling rail ticket will be €19.30. There will be 300 car park spaces at Dunboyne Station with a parking charge of €2 euro per day or €8 euro for a weekly ticket.

The new M3 Parkway station will feature a 1,200 space free car park, the largest park and ride facility in the country. There is an expected 31 minute journey time from the M3 Parkway station to Dublin. The price of an adult day return ticket to Dublin will be €6.00 and a weekly rolling rail ticket will be €26.80.

The Luas runs to the Docklands station to connect passengers to other parts of the City.

Deputy Wallace stated “The opening of the Dunboyne railway line next month will be hugely significant for Dunboyne people and for the surrounding area’s who experience the challenges and pressures of getting to and from work/college every day and who will be able to use the new M3 Parkway park and ride facility (close to the junction of Fairyhouse Road/Ratoath/Dunshaughlin)."

“I have remained focused to this project over the years to ensure that we have a real alternative for Meath commuters. I am delighted to be here today to witness one of the first driver training runs and I look forward to seeing the first passenger train in Dunboyne in September.” Deputy Wallace concluded.

Dunboyne Cllr Noel Leonard who was also in attendance stated “The opening of the Dunboyne Train Line will be hugely significant for Dunboyne people particularly as some people believed it would never happen since the downturn in the economy. It means a lot to me particularly as I have been lobbying for the re-opening of this line since 1997 with the then Minister of transport Minister O’Rourke. I would like to thank Deputy Mary Wallace who has lobbied with me extensively to ensure that Meath residents have access to a modern public transport infrastructure”.

Ends