Four new railway stations are set to be built in County Meath as part of a long-awaited plan to extend DART services from Dublin to Navan, in what is being described as one of the most significant public transport projects in the Greater Dublin Area in decades.
Iarnród Éireann has published the Emerging Preferred Route for the proposed 34-kilometre electrified railway line, which will connect Navan to the existing rail network at M3 Parkway near Dunboyne, allowing direct DART services into Dublin city centre.
The plans include four new stations: Dunshaughlin, Kilmessan, Navan Central, and Navan North, with Navan becoming fully integrated into the commuter rail network for the first time. The route will also include three park-and-ride facilities at Kilmessan, Dunshaughlin and Navan North, aimed at capturing commuters from surrounding areas.
Under the proposal, trains would run as frequently as every 15 minutes at peak times, with journeys between Navan and Dublin Connolly Station taking approximately one hour. The system is expected to carry up to 4,400 passengers per hour in each direction at peak capacity.
Iarnród Éireann has published the Emerging Preferred Route for the new Navan Railway.
Navan is currently the largest town in Ireland without a passenger rail service, a point repeatedly highlighted by officials and campaigners as population growth in Meath has placed increasing pressure on road and bus infrastructure.
The proposed line will make use of the disused railway corridor where possible, following much of the alignment of the original rail line that closed in 1963, though a key change has been introduced to better serve Dunshaughlin, which has experienced significant commuter growth in recent years.
The project is being delivered under the National Transport Authority (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, and is funded through the Department of Transport as part of wider rail expansion plans, including the DART+ programme.
Launching the public consultation, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien described the announcement as a “key milestone” and said the project would provide a sustainable alternative to car travel for thousands of commuters.
He said: “Today marks a key milestone in our plans to extend the DART system to Navan… As the largest town in Ireland without a railway service, this new line will meet the substantial demand from commuters in Navan.”
He added that the project would significantly reduce reliance on private cars and support long-term economic and housing growth in the region.
Minister of State Seán Canney, responsible for rail and transport logistics, said the line forms part of a wider transformation of Ireland’s rail network and would help meet rapidly growing commuter demand across Meath and beyond.
He said: “Only a railway can meet the growing commuter demand in a sustainable manner.”
He also highlighted the inclusion of park-and-ride facilities, noting they would allow commuters from areas such as Kells and Cavan to access the rail system more easily.
According to Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Mary Considine, the investment aims to deliver a high-capacity, modern public transport option for thousands of daily users.
She said: “By connecting Navan… we will transform the public transport options for thousands of commuters daily.”
She also confirmed that public consultation would play a key role in shaping the final design of the project.
NTA Chief Executive Anne Shaw described the scheme as “transformative” for Meath and the wider region, saying it would support more balanced regional development by improving access to employment, housing and services through sustainable transport.
She encouraged residents, businesses and stakeholders to engage with the consultation process, stressing that local feedback would help shape the final design.
Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe said the railway would deliver “real benefits on the ground”, improving connectivity and unlocking significant economic growth across the county.
The public consultation process, which opens today, will run until 5pm on 3 July 2026, and represents the first stage in a two-part non-statutory consultation process. A second round will take place once a preferred route is finalised.
Iarnród Éireann said submissions will be reviewed by the project team and used to refine the design before a formal Railway Order application, expected to be lodged in 2028. Construction is currently anticipated to begin in 2030, subject to approvals.
The overall cost has not yet been finalised, but Minister O’Brien indicated the project would require an investment of over €1 billion.
He also said he did not foresee major objections, stating: “I can’t imagine why anyone would object to a project like this.”
However, concerns have already been raised about potential delays, with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín calling for the project to be designated as critical infrastructure to reduce the risk of legal challenges slowing delivery.
The campaign for a rail line to Navan has been ongoing for years, driven by rapid population growth in Meath and rising commuter pressure. Census data shows Meath experienced a 13% population increase between 2016 and 2022, with a large proportion of residents commuting for work or education, often travelling for more than an hour.
Bus Éireann services from Navan have also seen rising demand, with passenger numbers on key routes to Dublin increasing significantly in recent years, further highlighting the pressure on existing transport links.
