M3 Parkway railway station

M3 Parkway is a Park and Ride railway station in County Meath beside Dunboyne and the M3 Motorway (Pace Interchange Junction 5).

M3 Parkway Ollpháirc M3
Location	Bennetstown, Dunboyne, County Meath, A86 DK28 Ireland
Coordinates	53°26′9″N 6°28′17″W
Owned by	Iarnród Éireann
Operated by	Iarnród Éireann
Platforms	2
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Other information
Station code	M3WAY
Fare zone	Suburban 3
Key dates
3 September 2010	Station opened

It is the terminus station on the Docklands to M3 Parkway Western Commuter service (during peak times Monday to Friday) and Clonsilla to M3 Parkway shuttle Commuter service at all other times.

It mainly serves as a large Park and Ride site, with 1,200 free car park spaces.[1]

The station is no longer served by any bus routes. This is a major drawback for commuters in its catchment area.

History

In 2005, the Irish Government announced that, as part of its Transport 21 plan, the line between Clonsilla and Navan would be reopened for passenger trains in two stages. This line had closed in 1963.[2] Phase 1 of this project from Clonsilla to M3 Parkway, the terminus until Phase 2 opens to Navan.

M3 Parkway opened on 3 September 2010, as part of phase one of the Navan rail line reopening.[3]

Services

Peak Times Monday to Friday : Passengers can travel directly between M3 Parkway and Dunboyne, Hansfield, Clonsilla, Coolmine, Castleknock, Navan Road Parkway, Ashtown, Broombridge, and Docklands.

All other times including all day Saturday and Sunday : Passengers can travel directly between M3 Parkway and Dunboyne, Hansfield, and Clonsilla but need to transfer at Clonsilla for services to Maynooth or Dublin city centre in order to travel to any other stations.

The station is no longer served by any buses, making a mockery of claims that it would allow usable onward bus connections to the rail service.[4]

Station name

There was uncertainty over the station's name, as it variously appears as Pace M3, M3 Park and Ride, and Pace (M3 Park and Ride). Unlike the preceding Dunboyne station, there was no previous station at this location. Since the Summer of 2010, signs in the station display the current name M3 Parkway.

Western Commuter
Dublin–Sligo Line Longford Edgeworthstown Mullingar Enfield Kilcock Maynooth Leixlip Louisa Bridge Leixlip Confey M3 Parkway Dunboyne Hansfield (serves Ongar) Docklands branch Clonsilla Porterstown DM (future) Coolmine Castleknock Navan Road Parkway Ashtown Pelletstown (under construction) Broombridge to Liffey Junction & Dublin Broadstone ( closed 1937 ) Glasnevin DM (future) The Royal Canal Phoenix Park Tunnel to Dublin Heuston Drumcondra Docklands ( Spencer Dock) The Royal Canal Dublin Connolly Luas Red Line to Dublin Heuston and Tallaght/Saggart Loopline Bridge Tara Street Dublin Pearse

See also

• List of railway stations in Ireland

References

1. Irish Rail M3 Parkway Station Website
2. Phase one of Navan rail project begins
3. Breakingnews.ie article on M3 Parkway opening
4. Bus Eireann Timetables - Regional Services by County

External links

• Irish Rail M3 Parkway Station Website

Preceding station		Iarnród Éireann		Following station
Dunboyne		Commuter Western Commuter (Dunboyne Branch)		Terminus
	Future
Dunboyne		Commuter Western Commuter (Navan Branch)		Dunshaughlin
		DART (Dunboyne Branch)		Terminus