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
Iarnród Éireann
General information
LocationBennetstown, Dunboyne, County Meath, A86 DK28
Ireland
Coordinates53°26′9″N 6°28′17″W / 53.43583°N 6.47139°W / 53.43583; -6.47139
Owned byIarnród Éireann
Operated byIarnród Éireann
Platforms2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Other information
Station codeM3WAY
Fare zoneSuburban 3
Key dates
3 September 2010Station 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 edit

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 edit

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.[4]

Station name edit

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
 
 
Longford
 
Edgeworthstown
 
Mullingar
 
Enfield
 
Kilcock
 
Maynooth
 
Leixlip Louisa Bridge
 
Leixlip Confey
 
 
M3 Parkway
 
 
Dunboyne
 
 
Hansfield (serves Ongar)
 
 
 
Clonsilla
 
Coolmine
 
Castleknock
 
Navan Road Parkway
 
Ashtown
 
Pelletstown
 
Broombridge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drumcondra
 
 
 
Docklands
(  Spencer Dock)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dublin Connolly  
 
 
 
 
 
Tara Street
 
Dublin Pearse

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Irish Rail M3 Parkway Station Website". Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Phase one of Navan rail project begins". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Breakingnews.ie article on M3 Parkway opening". Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Bus Eireann Timetables - Regional Services by County". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

External links edit

Preceding station   Iarnród Éireann Following station
Dunboyne   Commuter
Western Commuter
  Terminus
  Proposed  
Dunboyne   Commuter
Dublin-Navan railway line
  Dunshaughlin
  DART
  Terminus