Killucan station on agenda for council meeting with NTA

A fresh assessment of the potential use of the currently-closed Killucan railway station is being sought as part of a long-awaited meeting between Westmeath County Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The NTA, along with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, has agreed to meet the council in the second half of September.

“We’ve been waiting two and a half years for this meeting,” said Cllr Denis Leonard, who has argued for years that Killucan station should be reopened.

The Labour councillor said this week said he wants a survey of potential passengers to cover a much wider area around the station than a previous study, arguing that Killucan could provide an important rail option for commuters from a number of surrounding communities.

Killucan station has a large car park, he pointed out, meaning it could be particularly useful to people not just from Kinnegad but from Milltownpass and Rochfortbridge and living in the surrounding areas who need to commute to Dublin.

Cllr Leonard said the short drive to Killucan could make the station an attractive option for commuters who currently travel by car, particularly given the lack of public transport connections in some rural areas.

There is also a need, he said, for better bus connectivity from Kinnegad to Mullingar to serve the needs of commuters.

A proposed park and ride facility in Kinnegad could also form part of a more integrated transport network, he said.

The potential reopening of the Mullingar, Athlone rail line will also be discussed at the meeting. Cllr Leonard said there was strong support among councillors for examining the reopening of the line, whether as a conventional commuter railway or a light rail option.

The re-opening of the line is mooted in the All-Ireland Strategic Rail review, but it is understood that Iarnród Éireann are not keen to take any action until at least 2034, when the Old Rail Trail arrangement comes to an end and the greenway reverts to Iarnród Éireann ownership.

Cllr Leonard believes the railway and greenway could coexist, as additional bridges and appropriate separation would allow both to operate.