Transport 21 & A Platform for Change: Compare & contrast the promises made for Navan

Friday December 09, 2005 11:56

by Meath on Track - Meath on Track

Navan railway keeps getting pushed, each time with much fanfare

The 2005 'Transport 21' plan and the 2000 'A Platform for Change' plan - Compare & Contrast the promises made for reopening the Navan rail link under both plans.

2000 - A Platform for Change

Navan rail link is announced as part of A Platform for Change, a £14 billion government plan
2003: Deadline for the planning and design of the Navan rail link.
2006: Navan Rail Phase I to Dunboyne
2010: Navan Rail Phase II to Navan

Minister Noel Dempsey announced that the Navan rail link is the "culmination of a campaign he has led for many years" and voiced delight that the rail link was to be re-established. "This is the first time ever that details of the link, including a timescale, have been clearly laid out," he commented.

Mr. Dempsey said the provision of the rail link would provide many benefits, the most obvious being speedy and convenient access to the capital for large numbers of Meath people. The advantages for Navan from the business and industrial viewpoint probably would be even more crucial. The town would become a first-rate site for business investment, he said.

2005 - Transport 21

Navan rail link is announced as part of Transport 21, a €34 billion government plan
200? No date or deadline is announced for the planning and design of the Navan rail link
2009: Navan Rail Phase I to Dunboyne
2015: Navan Rail Phase II to Navan

Minister Noel Dempsey announced that "in 1997 I vowed to fight to secure all of the services and infrastructure needed" and voiced delight that the rail link was to be "included in the plan". "Now that the funding is guaranteed I will be working to ensure we do everything to get the rail link opened as soon as possible," he commented.

Mr. Dempsey said the provision of the rail link would provide much needed transport services, the most obvious being speedy and convenient access to the capital for "Meath residents that commute to work everyday". The advantages for Meath would be to make it a "central link for business". Navan would be linked to the rest of Ireland and would be a major factor in "attracting business and industry into the county," he said.

To be continued....???????