Transport authority pushed for increased park and ride facilities at Maynooth Train Station

Calls have been made for further investment into the transport infrastructure of north Kildare, with local Fianna Fáil TD Frank O'Rourke pushing for a park and ride capacity for the service at Maynooth train station.

The local TD has made representations to the National Transport Authority requesting that the capacity of the car park at the station be increased to deal with the added demand coming from commuters using the service.

“The Maynooth Rail Car Park is full at around 7.30am or 7.45am in the morning. Driving to the city centre is becoming increasingly difficult and we need to encourage more people to use public transport. However, we must provide facilities which encourage the use of public transport, and one such facility is adequate park and ride facilities at our rail stations.” Stated Deputy O’Rourke.

“Leixlip Louisa Bridge and Hazelhatch Rail stations have seen investments in Park and Ride facilities. I, with others, have succeeded in securing a park and ride for Kilcock commuters, both bus and rail commuters.  Plans are in place to have a park and ride for bus commuters adjacent to Junction 5 on the M4, beside Celbridge, as part of the Bus Connects project. The NTA are considering an option to increase the number of car parking spaces at the Naas/Sallins station, which I hope will be completed shortly. I have been successful in getting Kildare Co Co and the NTA to consider a modest bus park and ride for Clane based bus commuters.”

Deputy O'Rourke also noted that the costs of increasing the number of parking spaces would be considerable, but he is pushing for it nonetheless.

“The NTA have examined options for increasing the number of car parking places in Maynooth. It would cost €327,000 to provide just over 30 additional places in Maynooth and would cost €3m to provide a significant additional number of places as property acquisition would be required.”

“I have written to the Department of Transport seeking support for additional park and ride places at Maynooth. We must encourage people to use public transport and providing adequate park and ride places is key to attracting more public transport commuters,"Concluded Deputy O’Rourke.