Killucan Station could re-open in two or three years

It’s looking increasingly likely that Killucan train station will be re-opened.

In a recent letter to Deputy Robert Troy, the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade, confirmed his support “in principle, for the development of a two-platform station”.

The rail chief also stated that Iarnród Éireann is not in a position to contribute financially to the redevelopment of the station. Mr Mead said that “the urban and rural regeneration and development funds available in the NDP provides Westmeath County Council with an opportunity in conjunction with other key stakeholders to pursue the development of a station at Killucan”.

Mr Meade added that as the authority with the responsibility for land use and transport planning in the locality, it will be necessary for the council to arrange the production of a business case for NDP funding.

“Iarnród Éireann would support the development of the business plan with access to any relevant information we have and technical expertise in the planning, design and operating of a station,” he said.

Matching funding is required to qualify for NDP grants. The Iarnród Éireann chief, who is due to meet with council officials shortly, suggested that the matching funding could include local developments and levies.

In March, Deputy Troy facilitated a meeting in Leinster House between Mr Meade and three members of the campaign group to re-open the station, Cllr John Shaw and local election candidates Becky Loftus Dore and Denis Leonard.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Deputy Troy said that the campaign is moving in the right direction.

Irish Rail recently said that overcrowding will continue to be a problem on some services, including the Mullingar to Dublin line, until new carriages are delivered in 2021.

If the government provides the funding for the renovation work to be carried out, Deputy Troy predicted that the station could re-open within two to three years.

“This is not about party politics this is about improving a service for the people in the Kinnegad, Killucan and Rathwire area, an area that has exploded in population terms in recent years,” he said.