[September 2010] Dunboyne M3 Commuter rail to open in September

[ThomasJ]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/...ew&news_id=866

Wednesday 4th August

Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that the new Dunboyne (M3) to Dublin commuter rail service will commence this September.

Construction is now complete on the 7.5 kilometre double track rail line and driver training has commenced. Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD today joined with Iarnród Éireann on one of the first driver training runs.

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.

All trackwork, signalling, station and bridge works are now complete, and testing and driver training will be complete to allow for a September commencement of services. The precise date will be confirmed subject to testing progress.

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

Journey time from Dunboyne to Dublin will be as little as 27 minutes at peak, with a 31 minute journey time from M3 Parkway Station to Dublin.

The service will be operated by Commuter trains, and services will run to and from Docklands Station on weekdays, and Connolly Station at weekends. Docklands Station provides easy access to the entire Docklands area, including the southside via the Samuel Beckett Bridge, and also allows for easy connections with Dublin Bus and Luas Red Line services.

The new M3 Parkway station will feature a 1,200 space car park, the largest park and ride facility in the country. There will be 300 car park spaces at Dunboyne Station.

A third new station will be provided at Hansfield, a developer led station, providing infrastructure for the Hansfield strategic development zone (SDZ). This station will be subsequently opened when a new link road to allow access to the station is completed by the developer.

The Clonsilla to Navan line was closed in 1963. Dunboyne has not been served by rail since 1947 when the station closed.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD said "This new commuter rail service is going to make a huge difference to Meath based commuters. People deserve reliable public transport options and that’s what this new service will provide here in Meath. I have no doubt that it will be a very popular service. This is a major milestone in the delivery of phase one of the much needed Navan rail line.

Work on phase two of this project (M3 Parkway to Navan) continues apace with planning permission for the line due to be submitted to An Bord Pleanala in May 2011.

The development and construction of the Navan rail line is a key part of the Government’s infrastructure investment programme. Even in these difficult times the Government continues to invest in world class transport infrastructure. This investment will create jobs and ideally position us to take full advantage of the economic recovery."

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr John Lynch said “we are looking forward to opening this new commuter route next month, which will make daily commuting so much faster and easier for thousands of commuters from Co Meath and beyond. With the M3 Parkway Station, customers from a wide catchment area will be able to eliminate congestion completely from their daily journey, by switching to rail before encountering the notorious bottlenecks from Clonee to the city.”



Further Developments on M3 Parkway to Navan Line

Iarnród Éireann has also commenced design on M3 Parkway to Navan. A Railway order will be lodged in May 2011 for the project.

Following public consultation with residents, landowners and stakeholders and the preparation of a feasibility study a proposed route has been chosen. Iarnród Éireann staff and their contractors have commenced topographical and geotechnical surveys along the proposed route to assist in the design process. Station and bridge design works have commenced.

The development and construction of the line is a key part of the Government-funded Transport 21 programme. The preferred route is mostly on the alignment of the old Navan Railway line.

The project involves:

• The provision of 34km approximately of double track.

• Four Stations in total are proposed as part of the project at Dunshaughlin, Kilmessan, Navan Town Centre, and a terminus station at the north edge of Navan.

• Associated infrastructural works including signalling, bridge and level crossing works

[ThomasJ]

so docklands will not be used at the weekend, seems a waste! any thoughts?

[Mark Gleeson]

To be fair we did insist in our discussions with Irish Rail that on weekends Connolly/Pearse was a far more attractive destination in terms of leisure and shopping. Not forgetting this forces a stop in Drumcondra also

[ThomasJ]

That's true, especially with GAA weekends, the carpark on the m3 would probably attract the fans coming from outside Dublin on those weekends.
This will be a major benefit for Dublin 15 passengers

[wobbles]

Capacity wise what trains will be used on the new service? Will there be 8 car trains at peak hour?

[karlr42]

This station will be subsequently opened when a new link road to allow access to the station is completed by the developer.

Manor Parks Homebuilders are still holding up the opening of Hansfield station, I see. Hopefully they'll pull the finger out in time.

[Mark Gleeson]

Well I'll be interested to see where they magic up the extra trains from to run the service.

[comcor]

Out of interest, what driver training is required when a new track is opened?

[ThomasJ]

any truth to the rumours of a new irish rail timetable at the same time the dunboyle line opens?

[finnyus]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Well I'll be interested to see where they magic up the extra trains from to run the service.

Maybe the 2 piece 2700 that will be available once IE close Rosslare - Waterford line?

What happened to the 29000's that were used on the Sligo services? What currently is used on the Clonsilla - Docklands service? Is it one set used for that service currently?

[Mark Gleeson]

I would have concerns. Given the 70 bus takes up to 90 minutes to get to Dunboyne a 30 odd minute trip is going to be seriously attractive. The crew in Coolmine and Castleknock will be queuing up to the use the extra trains as it appears that Docklands will finally have a proper service.

They will need 3 trains in motion to cover a 30 minute frequency timetable, that means 1 more than current.

There are still 2 missing ICR sets and the next batch don't arrive until end 2011. The Kildare route service expansion has been long fingered. You couldn't have both the KRP and Dunboyne just not enough trains to cover the extra services.

[Trampas]

Lets hope they have the location on the front of the train and working comms inside otherwise we could have people ending up in Dunboyne instead of Leixlip. Especially if there is any delays on the line.

[finnyus]

Originally Posted by Trampas

Lets hope they have the location on the front of the train and working comms inside otherwise we could have people ending up in Dunboyne instead of Leixlip. Especially if there is any delays on the line.

My train heading to Midleton yesterday evening (approaching Little Island) had "Tralee" written on the destination board. The only time I ever saw the correct name was on the opening day (just over a year ago).

I cannot image that was factored into the budge for the line: upgrading of the PIS for the trains running on the new line to M3 Parkway.

Just a quick question, anyone coming off the M3 @ Pace, will they have to pay a toll to get into the M3 Parkway station?

[Mark Gleeson]

If arriving from the north on the M3 they must pay the toll, the booth is a mile or so north of the station.

[finnyus]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

If arriving from the north on the M3 they must pay the toll, the booth is a mile or so north of the station.

I presume there will be a charge to park as well?

What will the price of the journey to Connolly/Docklands be?

[Mark Gleeson]

4.20 or 4.70 return and yes you pay for the car park

There was no negotiation with Irish Rail on car parks

http://www.railusers.ie/images/carparking/parking.jpg

[Colm Moore]

The car park is privately owned in some deal between the landowner and CIÉ.

[Colm Moore]

www.rte.ie

Test runs under way on Dunboyne rail line
watch Wednesday, 4 August 2010 22:15

Trains are now making test runs on the rail line between Dunboyne and Dublin city centre.

It is expected the line will be open for passengers from next month.

The commuter service will run every 30 minutes, connecting Dunboyne with the Docklands and Connolly Stations.
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It will have a journey time of around 27 minutes.

[dowlingm]

Well, they sent a 29K up to Dunboyne today, for whatever that's worth.

Is there even the slightest chance of the Pace line being extended on a quick "Phase 2A" basis to the Dunshaughlin/Ratoath stop pending extension to Navan, or is there too much tricky stuff en route to bother?

[Mark Gleeson]

Phase one was meant to go to Dunshaughlin well close to it and to have the park and ride there before the toll but the extra capital cost ruled that out.

Minister Dempsey hasn't a clue about when Navan will get a train. Dept of Finance will refuse the project on cost/return grounds. The planning approval stage will be a nightmare as Dunshaughlin and Rathoath dig in on the route chosen.