'Huge news' as new train station announced for this Kildare town
Naoise Ó Cearúil TD (FF) has welcomed confirmation of plans for the new Maynooth West station
Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North, Naoise Ó Cearúil, has announced a major breakthrough for Maynooth with confirmation that a new train station is being progressed for the town.
The new Maynooth West station will provide a second rail access point for Maynooth, benefiting the university, students, commuters and communities across the surrounding area, including Kilcock and Rathcoffey.
The project forms part of a €27 million Government investment in rail infrastructure across Kildare and Cork, approved by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD. Support for the station’s design and development will accelerate its delivery and help facilitate more than 6,000 homes.
Deputy Ó Cearúil said: “This is huge news for Maynooth and the surrounding communities. A second train station is a significant development that will help shape the future of our town, our university and how people travel.
“I have been working to progress this project and pushing for it for some time. I am delighted to now be able to share this news with the community and see a significant Government commitment behind bringing it forward.
“For Maynooth University, its students and staff, this is particularly welcome. A new station has the potential to make travelling by rail a much more practical option, supporting the university’s continued development and strengthening its connections with the wider region.
“This will benefit far more than Maynooth alone. People in Kilcock, Rathcoffey and surrounding areas also stand to gain from improved access to rail. We need to ensure the station is developed with the connections that will allow those communities to make full use of it.”
Deputy Ó Cearúil said the station would be central to planning for the town’s growth.
“People want to see a clear plan for how Maynooth can grow sustainably. We know the pressures on our roads, and we know the need for homes. Developing a new station alongside the delivery of more than 6,000 homes is an opportunity to plan properly, putting public transport at the heart of new communities.
“For existing residents, it means another important investment in the town’s future. For people hoping to make their home here, it means the prospect of living in a community with rail services close by.
“The €27 million investment announced by Minister Browne is significant. The support for this station will bring forward essential design and development work, with construction potentially starting in late 2028. Without this intervention, delivery would be delayed until after 2031.”
Deputy Ó Cearúil concluded: “I want to thank Minister James Browne for backing this project and Minister Darragh O’Brien for his support for the wider rail investment programme.
“This is a major step forward for our area. I will continue working to keep the project moving and ensure that this announcement delivers lasting benefits for local people.”