Feasibility study relating to potential re-opening of Kildare-based train station requested
The disused station is located in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District
A feasibility study relating to the potential re-opening of a disused train station based in County Kildare has been requested by a local representative.
Sinn Féin councillor Noel Connolly made the call at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, June 17 last.
During the early stages of this meeting, Cllr Connolly motioned for ‘the members of the MD of Kildare/ Droichead Nua write to Irish Rail, asking them to investigate the feasibility of preparing a medium-term plan for the re-opening of Kildangan Train Station’.
His request echoes a similar call which was made last month by his party colleague, TD for Kildare South Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, regarding the potential re-opening of the station.
Cllr Connolly’s motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer.
In response to his motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting that this would be a matter for the members of the MD to agree upon.
Speaking further on his motion, Cllr Connolly claimed that there is a precendent for re-opening certain disused train stations, such as Adamstown Train Station in County Dublin (“Before the housing developments there,” he added) and Dromod Train Station in County Leitrim.
He also told KCC that it would be ‘a good step to encourage locals to leave their cars behind’, in favour of taking the train, and that this in turn would assist KCC’s climate action goals.
Following a brief discussion, the councillors agreed with Cllr Connolly’s request, and it was decided that a letter would be sent by KCC to Irish Rail regarding the feasibility of re-opening Kildangan Train Station.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme