Louth

Interesting letter in last Tuesday's Irish Times. It sums up the overall issues very well.

Excellent discussion on this topic. DoctorPan has summed up the issue very well in his Point 7 and also by Ironroad above. A spur from Clongriffin is not a simple solution and to be fully effective needs to be done in conjunction with other infrastructural upgrades as outlined by DoctorPan. But if carried out correctly it would benefit people travelling to the airport from most population centres on the island. I'm looking forward to being reincarnated in 100 years time (good comment above Ironroad). Whether we would have an Irish Rail connection to the airport by that time or Star Trek teleporting is an open question. Kevin

Yes on Flickr. Put in "Drogheda" on the search and the track diagram will come up along with many useful photos. I'm doing something similar to you with Castlebellingham. Unfortunately only the platforms remain but using photos and taking measurements of the station house in Dunleer I have a reasonably good representation under way. I remember the station well from my youth when trains were still stopping there, and like you it brings memories of my own father. I'm just finishing the Castlebellingham signal box at the moment. You are fortunate that most of Drogheda station is unchanged. You will get great satisfaction from constructing your project and even more by running your rolling stock. Keep us all up to date with your progress as there is huge interest and help out there. Kevin

You have probably seen this track plan on the IRRS website, but just in case... Another source for the original layout is the Ordinance Survey website OSI.ie

I wrote to the Department of Transport recently looking for clarification on their TEN-T policy in relation to Dublin Airport and Dublin Port. The main issue is the requirement under the EU TEN-T transport policy to connect Dublin Airport and the proposed Dublin Port south side terminal to the "long distance" rail network. Dublin Port are proposing a new road bridge linking the north and south terminals but no rail freight facility. The Department are to be complimented in taking the time to reply. However the response is not particularly positive (see below): Re: EU Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Policy Dear Mr. Enright, I refer to your e-mail dated 3 February 2024 seeking clarification on a number of issues relating to implementation of EU transport policy. The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is a Europe-wide network of roads, rail lines, ports and airports. The network is made up of the ‘Comprehensive Network’ which is required to be completed by 2050. The ‘Core Network’, which is the most strategic part of the TEN-T network, is required to be completed by 2030. The TEN-T policy falls under the remit of the Department of Transport, and the actions which the Department undertakes as part of its role are set out below. Regarding your query on the appointment of a “Designated Authority”, such a designation is not an element of the TEN-T Regulation. However, Directive (EU) 2021/1187, which aims to streamline measures to advance the realisation of the TEN-T network and to clarify the procedural process for project promoters in respect of permit granting and public procurement, does provide for the designation by each Member State of a “Designated Authority”. The Department is currently progressing this designation process. To ensure that the TEN-T policy is implemented in Ireland, the Department of Transport are taking several actions to the implementation of the TEN-T policy. Some of these actions include: 1. Legislation and Regulation: The Department develops strategic plans and policies which align with the objectives of the TEN-T policy. This includes ensuring compliance with EU legislation related to transport infrastructure, services and safety standards. 2. Funding and stakeholder engagement: The Department of Transport collaborates with various stakeholders, including other Government agencies, local authorities, transport operators and potential applicants to maximise the contribution of funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to supporting the development of transport infrastructure in Ireland. 3. Coordination: The Department of Transport works closely with the European Commission to provide input to the negotiations on the development of new EU transport legislation (including the recast TEN-T Regulation) and to ensure Ireland is meeting its obligations under same. With regard to the Dublin Port 3FM Project, Dublin Port Company (DPC) is now at the pre-planning consultation stage on its third and final Masterplan (3FM) project, which primarily relates to developments on the south side of the port. This Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) project will require planning permission from An Bord Pleanála, which is an independent process and does not involve input from the Department. A copy of Dublin Port’s report on the 3FM consultation is available at: 3FM Project - Dublin Port. In terms of the rail requirements of TEN-T, the current regulation states that “Maritime ports of the core network indicated in Part 2 of Annex II shall be connected with the railway and road and, where possible, inland waterway transport infrastructure of the trans-European transport network by 31 2 December 2030, except where physical constraints prevent such connection.” Dublin Port is connected to an operating rail line. While the Department is committed to promoting the development of rail freight, it’s important to note that the TEN-T stipulations relate to the port as a whole, as against rail connectivity to each aspect of the estate. This means that while rail freight is certainly a priority, the broader considerations of the port’s overall efficiency, accessibility and intermodal connectivity must also be taken into account. The EU Commission published its proposal for a revised Trans-European Transport Network (TENT) Regulation in December 2021. The main aims of the revision are to align the development of the TEN-T network with EU climate goals, to better integrate different modes of transport and urban nodes and to increase the resilience of the network. On 18 December 2023, negotiators from the Council and the Parliament reached a provisional final agreement on the text of the regulation and the network maps set out therein. The text of this provisional agreement will now undergo some technical work before it can be finalised and put forward for adoption. Member States and MEPs will then review this finalised text and will be asked to formally approve its adoption as the revised TEN-T Regulation. In relation to Dublin Airport’s plans, the Department has not lodged an objection to the Infrastructure Application as increasing the capacity of Dublin airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy, which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport in meeting national social and economic policy goals and includes a specific objective of developing Dublin Airport as a hub airport with the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets. Any proposed developments at Dublin Airport must safeguard the future development of MetroLink. MetroLink will be a transformative high-capacity public transport system, capable of carrying up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction, in line with DAA’s growth targets. A Railway Order for MetroLink has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála and is awaiting a decision. In addition to plans for Metro, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken by the Department of Transport in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, is considering rail connectivity to our international gateways. The draft rail review currently lists the spur from Clongriffin to Dublin Airport as a long-term intervention that should be delivered between 2040 & 2050. Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and a draft report was published for a Strategic Environmental Assessment public consultation last July. The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29 September and submissions are now under review by officials from both jurisdictions. It is expected that a final report will be submitted for Ministerial approval in both jurisdictions and ultimately for approval of the Government. It is envisaged that a final report will be published by summer. The Department also continues to invest in other sustainable modes of transport options to and from the airport. Yours sincerely, Secretary General

The proposed Metrolink will go from Charlemont (Ranelagh) to Swords with connections to the Irish Rail system at Tara Street and Glasnevin only (not Connolly or Heuston). It will be built to a different gauge to Irish Rail so integration can never be achieved. Consequently rail travellers from most parts of the country will face a convoluted journey getting to the airport. For example, those on the northern line will in effect pass close to the airport travelling into Dublin, transfer to the metro at Tara St and then have to go all the way back north on the metro. At the Bord Pleanala hearing, Duncan Stewart advocated an extension of the DART to the airport as the best solution. This has recently been recommended by Jim Meade of Irish Rail who said it could be completed in 5 years. In the 1970s, CIE proposed a branch off the Belfast line running through Swords and the airport, then into Dublin. If the planners had made provision for this even 10-15 years ago in land-use planning, it could have been built for a fraction of the cost of Metrolink. Ireland seems to adopt very expensive infrastructure projects that are badly thought through and offer poor value for money (the Children's Hospital comes to mind). Sometimes we get what we deserve and only have ourselves to blame!

When I heard of Irish government investment in cross-border infrastructure, I really expected a major upgrade of the Dublin-Belfast rail line. €50 mil for Casement Park and a paltry €12.5 mil for the rail service, not to mention the €600 mil for the A5 road. Metrolink will cost €9.5 billion with a connection to the Irish Rail system at Tara St and Drumcondra only. No joined-up thinking there. It all just doesn't make sense.

Under the EU TEN-T transport policy, Dublin Airport is part of the "core" transport network and is required to be connected to the "long distance" rail system by 2030. Metrolink will not fulfil this requirement as it will be light rail, a different gauge and unconnected to the Irish Rail system. Our transport planners have studiously ignored EU TEN-T especially in the proposed change from 32 to 40 million passenger per year.

Patrick you are a craftsman and artist combined in one great railway modeller. Kevin

Absolutely magnificent Patrick. It is a classic GNR(I) station building. You are setting a gold standard!

Got four of the CIE "broken wheel" versions. Lovely models. Thank you Leslie. They will go well with a few of the IRM Bulleid open wagons. Perfect for a mid-1970s setting.

C Class?

Leslie, if you are going to the Blackrock exhibition I would like to reserve two please. I met you at St Paul's last year and was asking about GNRI wagons from the 1970s. These are perfect and look really great. Kevin

Thanks for that article Branchline121. Currently there are 3 Enterprise sets along with spare coaches. A 200 metre FLIRT (or similar) would comprise about 10 carriages with a capacity of about 400+ passengers, similar to the current Enterprise sets. So 8 new sets should facilitate the proposed hourly service. The two big questions are whether the new units will be in service for the 2028 European Soccer Championships and whether a journey time of under 2 hours could be achieved once the DART is extended to Drogheda. I assume the planners in IR, NIR/Translink, the NTA, Dept of Transport, etc., are discussing these issues in the context of DART+ and the Strategic All-Island Rail Review. Hopefully some rational proposals will emerge later in the year.

If you need any measurements of the Dunleer station Patrick, let me know. Access to trackside is a bit of a problem though. The car park side is no problem. Kevin