Contents of Monasterevin Railway Transport Report


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Background To The Study Area
Transport Policy An Overview
Survey Of Transport Needs In Monasterevin
Conclusions
Selection of Images and Maps






























 

Foreword to the Monasterevin Railway Transport Report

The first train stopped in Monasterevin in 1847 and the last in 1976. It is ironic that the station was opened in Monasterevin during the Great Famine and that today at the height of the booming economy that the station is closed. In 1976 my generation allowed CIE to close our station in Monasterevin. At the time, CIE stated that the station was not viable, so they decided to close the station and it has remained closed since then.

Sometime later I discovered that the reason for closing the station was to speed up the timetable from Dublin to Galway. Shortly before the station was closed in 1976 CIE changed the morning train to Dublin to the afternoon, which resulted in fewer passengers using the trains thereby providing them with the excuse to close the station.

At a very large meeting held in January 1999 in Monasterevin, the people of Monasterevin demanded the re-opening of the station.

The population of Monasterevin parish has increased to 5,200. We are getting a new water scheme in the town, tenders are out for it. There is also a firm date for the upgrading of the sewerage scheme. This will in turn bring about more construction in the area and increase the demand for the re-opening of the station.

In 1998 large amounts of land were bought for construction development. This continued growth in population shows to Iarnród Éireann that the demand for the station is there and will increase in the future.

Monasterevin is about to be by-passed and work has already begun on the drainage and bridges. With this completed more people will be commuting to Dublin.

Finally on behalf of the people of Monasterevin, I say to Iarnród Éireann "Get your act together and be ready for the boom when it comes!"

EDWARD O’ROURKE

CHAIRMAN

Monasterevin Railway Action Committee

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Monasterevin Railway Action Committee wish to express sincere thanks to Action South Kildare Ltd., Paul Keating, Karl Duffy, Beatrice Whelan, David Lawlor and the Community Council, Resource Centre, C.Y.M.S. in Monasterevin.


 

Introduction to the Monasterevin Railway Transport Report

Monasterevin is a town in West Kildare, located on the N7, 38 miles south west of Dublin. The first train stopped in Monasterevin in 1847 and the last in 1976. The railway played an important part in the development of the town and its commercial and social life. Since 1976 people wishing to travel to or from Monasterevin either had to use private transport or a bus.

Ireland has changed radically since Monasterevin railway station closed. We have become a prosperous nation with successful industrial and business sectors. The Eastern part of the country surrounding Dublin has seen the majority of the economic development. This has also led to a greater demand for housing and a growth in this area’s population. It has also led to an increase in the number of cars using the roads leading to Dublin. Monasterevin is situated in this area. A large number of people commute daily to Dublin and a considerable number travel daily to Monasterevin to work in the various businesses in the town.

Monastervin has not seen the type of housing boom typical of many other County Kildare towns. However, with the Kildare Town by-pass having commenced the commuting time from Monasterevin to Dublin will decrease further. Also the water supply problem of the town is being tackled this year with a major project being undertaken by Kildare County Council. The towns’ population will increase considerably and, with house prices so high in Dublin and surrounding areas, it is likely that many first time buyers will be looking to places like Monasterevin for their new homes.

This report is the Railway Action Committees case to the Government and Iarnród Éireann for the re-opening of our station. This report outlines:-

  1. The history of the Railway in Monasterevin
  2. The current and future development planned for the town
  3. A study of transport policies which clearly call for a rail service for Monasterevin
  4. A survey of transport needs of people who commute to and from Monasterevin on a regular basis.

The town’s future demand for rail travel will be strong. However the survey that we are presenting herein confirms that such a demand already exist.


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