Dunboyne/M3 commuter
lines
Dear sir - Barry Kenny of Iarnród Éireann
refers to the investment in rail infrastructure and the
"Dunboyne/M3 commuter lines" and that this transport
corridor will serve "one of the highest projected
population growths in the country".
Firstly, the Dunboyne/M3 Commuter line is aptly named, as
the M3 and its double tolls will start where the rail
line ends. The lucky residents of Meath living in the
centre of this "high population growth area", will have
to pay up to two M3 tolls each way per day as well as
park and ride charges to use this facility. And that of
course is before they even pay for their rail
tickets.
The truth of the matter is that the M3 actually starts
where the rail line stops, and so this is not a real rail
solution for Meath.
A real rail solution would be a reopening of the line to
Navan and Kells, via Dunshaughlin and Ratoath, so
commuters would not need to use their cars.
However, as the government is refusing to put bridges in
the M3 to facilitate reopening of the Dublin - Navan -
Kells line in the future, this is unlikely to ever happen
as the cost of bridging the M3 at Cannistown and similar
stretches of the line is likely to prove prohibitive.
Mr. Kenny and his colleagues in Iarnród
Éireann do not as they claim "meet the needs of
the communities" they serve. This so called "rail
solution" for Meath is a purposeful misleading of the
public as it goes as far as the border of Dublin and
Meath, and there it stops nicely situated after two M3
tolls. The "Dunboyne rail extension" is merely transport
window dressing, and the commuters of Meath will be the
victims of this farce.
Is mise,
Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa,
Meath On Track campaign,
Navan.
© The Meath Chronicle, 10th. September 2005.
