Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the plans in place to provide a new train station at Navan, County Meath or if a renovation of the existing station is planned in order to facilitate the completion of the proposed phase two of the Navan Dublin rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23806/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The re-opening of the Clonsilla to Navan line is proposed under Transport 21 in two phases: Clonsilla to Pace by 2009 and Pace to Navan by 2015. The current position is that Irish Rail submitted an application for a Railway Order for the first phase to An Bord Pleanála in September. The company is targeting a late 2008 start (subject to Railway Order) and a Spring 2010 completion. The proposed line from Clonsilla to Pace includes three stations at Hansfield, Dunboyne and a major Park and Ride at Pace.

In regard to the Pace/Navan phase, the position is that the feasibility work has commenced. A scoping survey is currently underway to survey the alignment and establish what engineering and technical issues are likely to be encountered in the subsequent work to construct and open the line. This work is expected to be completed shortly. The location of stations on the rail network is an operational matter for Irish Rail but the company has informed me that it is premature at this stage to make a decision on the precise location of the station at Navan.