A local Councillor in Dublin Mid-West has expressed the frustration being felt by commuters and many more ‘would-be commuters’ at the lack of a definitive opening date for the long awaited Kishogue train station. Cllr Derren Ó Brádaigh was speaking following recent separate responses that he received from both the National Transport Authority and South Dublin County Council.
Cllr Ó Brádaigh said: “Kishogue train station continues to be the subject of controversy with lots of local residents now demanding a clear date for the opening of this vitally important piece of local infrastructure. People are told that this station, forming part of the Kildare Route Project, will be delivered in tandem with the Clonburris SDZ and housing development, however the population has grown significantly regardless, a new Kishogue Community College is long open and the nearby Clonburris Phase One development is due to commence imminently.
“This station has remained idle now for 14 years with the original cost of construction €6.35m and every week people continue to ask me the same question “When is Kisogue opening?” Works will now be required to upgrade the station, and this will have to include lift replacement, internal and external wall works, renewing all mechanical, electrical and telecom cables, up to date signage, paths and paving with a further projected cost of €3.8m
“The most recent correspondence that I received from the National Transport Authority states that ‘assessments’ took place in 2021 when a series of inspections, conditions surveys, and studies were undertaken, and stakeholders were consulted on the requirements for bringing the station into service. Works need to be undertaken by Iarnród Éireann before the station can open.
“Even with funding already approved, these works will take at least a year and that is taking us toward the end of summer 2023 if they began now, and that’s without an actual opening date being confirmed beyond that timeline. This is a project that should be prioritised fully now in my view. Let’s get the upgrades completed, open the station, and move on with other important transport solutions for the rapidly growing new communities of Lucan South and West.”
