Planning application on the way which will link Kildare rail station to electric network

A planning application will be made early this year for a depot at Kilcock rail station.

This follows the rejection by An Coimisiún Pleanála of a previous application for the depot by Irish Rail between Maynooth and Kilcock.

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According to Cllr Bill Clear the depot “was to act as a siding to remove trains from the main line for maintenance.”

However it was refused “on the basis that the proposed location was situated within a flood plain.”

He said Irish Rail was requested to investigate and identify a more suitable alternative site, which is located to the west of Kilcock. He added IR intends to submit a planning application for this alternative depot site in early 2026.

He said: “As the proposed depot would be located beyond Kilcock, the rail line will need to be electrified as far as the depot to allow DART services to operate and be maintained there and IR will therefore apply for Kilcock to be formally included in the DART+ West project.”

He said once construction on this starts “Kilcock will be included as part of the electrified network.”

Cllr Clear also said the existing single-track line to Kilcock does not require expansion to two or four tracks and “electrification alone is sufficient.”

He added: “Once electrified, the line can support a service frequency of up to one train every 15 minutes.”