A Dublin Mid-West Councillor has expressed both disappointment and concern being conveyed by residents in Lucan, at news recently that Kishogue Train Station will not open as expected by the end of the year. Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh was speaking following a response he received from the National Transport Authority regarding an update on the planned opening of the already delayed station.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh said “The news received on Monday last week is not the response anyone wanted to hear. This particularly applies to the large swathe of commuters already experiencing real difficulties getting to work on time and depending on an over-strained peak hour bus service to make vitally important transport connections for hospital appointments, getting to school and college and arriving at other important daily destinations”.
“Fifteen years have now passed since the station was initially built, with the original cost of construction €6.35m. Anxious commuters and the public generally that live in a rapidly developing Lucan landscape, were told last year that the station would have to undergo upgrades, including a lift replacement, internal and external wall works, renewing all mechanical, electrical and telecom cables, up to date signage, paths and paving – the further projected cost of these works being in the region of €3.8m. In 2021 I received detail stating that ‘assessments’ were taking place with a series of inspections, conditions surveys / studies and stakeholders were being consulted on the requirements for bringing the station into service. Works were needed by Iarnród Éireann in the interim before opening.
Adding further, Cllr Ó Brádaigh said “The explanation provided this week states that Iarnród Eireann has undertaken a tender process to appoint contractors to complete the works required to open the station. This involves discussions with the Council and relevant landowners to discuss the temporary and permanent access arrangements to the station, with anticipated tenders still to be awarded. It is now expected that the works at the station will take 6 more months to complete and therefore we won’t see the station open until Spring 2024.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh also said “My colleague Mark Ward TD has also been raising the need for Kishogue Train Station to open its doors as a matter of urgency, and has submitted parliamentary questions seeking clarification on any cost overruns in light of this news.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh concluded “The population of Lucan has increased dramatically, continues to grow and is expected to rise significantly in the immediate to longer term. This is a vital piece of infrastructure and residents in Lucan were told that the delays to date were as a result of strategic planning. It was stated that the station, forming part of the Kildare Route Project, would be delivered in tandem with the Clonburris SDZ and housing development. The construction of Clonburris Phase One situated closest to this very facility off the R136 is due to commence very shortly and it is now an imperative that this hugely important transport facility opens ahead of the completion of these homes.”
