M3 Parkway railway station - Revision history

imported>Steel1943: /* History / fix common MOS:REFSPACE spacing errors, replaced: /ref>
2025-05-20T06:58:39Z

History: fix common MOS:REFSPACE spacing errors, replaced: /ref> <ref → /ref><ref

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{{Short description|Railway station in County Meath, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox station
| name = M3 Parkway
| native_name = Ollpháirc M3
| native_name_lang = GA
| symbol = rail
| symbol_location = ie
| type = Commuter Rail Station
| style =
| image = M3 Parkway railway station - 2014-05-15.jpg
| image_caption =
| alt =
| other_name =
| address = Bennetstown,<br/> [[Dunboyne]],<br/> [[County Meath]], <br/>A86 DK28
| borough =
| country = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|53|26|05.5|N|6|28|08.3|W|display=inline,title}}
| elevation =
| line = {{Rail color box|system=Irish Rail|line=Western Commuter|inline=croute|type=|note=}}
| connections =
| distance =
| structure = At-grade
| platform = 2
| levels =
| tracks = 2
| bus_stands =
| bus_operators =
| routes =
| parking = 1,200 spaces
| original =
| pregroup =
| postgroup =
| prenational =
| start =
| end =
| starting =
| ending =
| years = 3 September 2010
| events = Station opened
| opened =
| closed =
| rebuilt =
| architect =
| electrified =
| accessible = Yes
| code = M3WAY
| iata =
| owned = [[Iarnród Éireann]]
| operator = [[Iarnród Éireann]]
| zone = [[Dublin Suburban Rail|Suburban 3]]
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| pass_system =
| mpassengers =
| services =
| embedded = {{Infobox station/Iarnród Éireann}}
| route_map = {{switcher
| {{Dublin-Navan railway line|inline=y}}
| Show Navan Line line route diagram
| {{Dublin Suburban Rail Western|inline=y}}
| Show Western Commuter line route diagram
}}
| mapframe =
| mapframe-caption = Location in [[Dublin]] city
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| map_state = collasped
| map_type = Dublin#Island of Ireland
}}

'''M3 Parkway''' is a Park and Ride railway station in [[County Meath]] beside [[Dunboyne]] and the [[N3 road (Ireland)|M3 Motorway]] (Pace Interchange Junction 5).

It is the terminus station on the [[Docklands railway station|Docklands]] to M3 Parkway Western Commuter service (during peak times Monday to Friday) and [[Clonsilla railway station|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/M3%20Parkway |title=Irish Rail M3 Parkway Station Website |access-date=13 August 2012 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720154009/http://www.irishrail.ie/M3%20Parkway |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 rail line between [[Clonsilla railway station|Clonsilla]] and [[Navan railway station|Navan]] would be reopened for passenger trains in two phases. This line had closed in 1963. Phase 1 of the project involved reopening the section between [[Clonsilla railway station|Clonsilla]] and M3 Parkway, which would serve as the terminus until Phase 2 extended the line to Navan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech by Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Transport At the Launch of Transport 21, Dublin Castle Tuesday, 1st November 2005 |url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/committee_of_public_accounts/submissions/2023/2023-07-31_correspondence-ken-spratt-secretary-general-department-of-transport-r1872-pac33_en.pdf |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=oireachtas.ie |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220191859/https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/committee_of_public_accounts/submissions/2023/2023-07-31_correspondence-ken-spratt-secretary-general-department-of-transport-r1872-pac33_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-11-01 |title=National transport plan to cost €34bn |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1101/69233-transport/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903152830/https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1101/69233-transport/ |archive-date=2023-09-03 |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref>

M3 Parkway station opened on 3 September 2010 as part of Phase 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-09 |title=Commuter trains return to Dunboyne |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/commuter-trains-return-to-dunboyne/35275.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205105353/https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/commuter-trains-return-to-dunboyne/35275.article |archive-date=2023-02-05 |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=railwaygazette.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-09-01 |title=New Dunboyne commuter line to open this Thursday |url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2010/09/01/new-dunboyne-commuter-line-to-open-this-thursday/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=[[Meath Chronicle]] |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220191859/https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2010/09/01/new-dunboyne-commuter-line-to-open-this-thursday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Main|Dublin–Navan railway line}}
Plans for Phase 2, which will extend the rail line to Navan, have been delayed. Originally slated for completion in 2015, the new timeline now targets completion between 2030 and 2035. The extension will involve approximately 40 kilometers of new track and include stations at [[Dunshaughlin railway station|Dunshaughlin]] and [[Kilmessan railway station|Kilmessan]], improving connectivity for these areas. Currently, the project is in the development phase, with a focus on design and route selection, and public consultations are expected in the coming two years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-20 |title=Project to connect Dublin rail to Navan to begin in a 'couple of weeks' |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/project-to-connect-dublin-rail-to-navan-to-begin-in-a-couple-of-weeks/a1144794606.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220191859/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/project-to-connect-dublin-rail-to-navan-to-begin-in-a-couple-of-weeks/a1144794606.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-25 |title=Project bringing trains back to Navan set to begin |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2024/1125/1482732-project-bringing-trains-back-to-navan-set-to-begin/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=[[RTÉ News]] |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220191859/https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2024/1125/1482732-project-bringing-trains-back-to-navan-set-to-begin/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-04 |title=Navan-Dublin train: Proposed line likely to cost up to €3bn, transport authority estimates |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2024/12/04/proposed-navan-dublin-rail-line-likely-to-cost-up-to-3bn-transport-authority-estimates/#:~:text=Rail%20link%20scheduled%20to%20be%20completed%20between%202031%20and%202036&text=The%20project,%20which%20would%20involve,the%20early%20to%20mid-2030s. |access-date=2024-12-20 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |archive-date=19 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219020655/https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2024/12/04/proposed-navan-dublin-rail-line-likely-to-cost-up-to-3bn-transport-authority-estimates/#:~:text=Rail%20link%20scheduled%20to%20be%20completed%20between%202031%20and%202036&text=The%20project,%20which%20would%20involve,the%20early%20to%20mid-2030s. |url-status=live }}</ref>

Additionally, the [[DART+ West]] project has been approved, which will extend the DART network to M3 Parkway. This extension includes electrification and re-signalling of the existing rail lines, enhancing service frequency and capacity to accommodate growing commuter demand from the station.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Libreri |first=Samantha |date=2024-07-30 |title=Plans to extend DART network to Kildare, Meath approve |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0730/1462601-dart-west-approval/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=[[RTÉ News]] |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220191859/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0730/1462601-dart-west-approval/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Thomas |date=2024-10-15 |title=Irish Rail appoints AtkinsRéalis to design Dart+ West and South West rail projects in Dublin |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/irish-rail-appoints-atkinsrealis-to-design-dart-west-and-south-west-rail-projects-in-dublin-15-10-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |magazine=New Civil Engineer |language=en |archive-date=20 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241020233511/https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/irish-rail-appoints-atkinsrealis-to-design-dart-west-and-south-west-rail-projects-in-dublin-15-10-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DART+ Key Infrastructural Elements |url=https://www.dartplus.ie/en-ie/projects/dart-west/public-consultation-round-2/key-infrastructural-elements |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=www.dartplus.ie |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208042545/https://www.dartplus.ie/en-ie/projects/dart-west/public-consultation-round-2/key-infrastructural-elements |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Services==

=== Train Services ===
Peak Times Monday to Friday: Passengers can travel directly between M3 Parkway and [[Dunboyne railway station|Dunboyne]], [[Hansfield railway station|Hansfield]], [[Clonsilla railway station|Clonsilla]], [[Coolmine railway station|Coolmine]], [[Castleknock railway station|Castleknock]], [[Phoenix Park railway station|Navan Road Parkway]], [[Ashtown railway station|Ashtown]], [[Broombridge railway station|Broombridge]] and [[Connolly station|Dublin Connolly]] or [[Docklands railway station|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-18 |title=Dublin-M3 Parkway-Longford-Valid from 14.10.2024 until further notice |url=https://www.irishrail.ie/Admin/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Connolly-DART-timetables/14_m3_parkway-longford.pdf |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=irishrail.ie |archive-date=19 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219121833/https://www.irishrail.ie/Admin/IrishRail/media/Timetable-PDF-s/Connolly-DART-timetables/14_m3_parkway-longford.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{adjacent stations|noclear=y
| system1 = Iarnród Éireann
| note-row1 =
{{rail line|previous=[[Dunboyne railway station|Dunboyne]]|next=Terminus|route=[[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]<br/>[[Dublin Suburban Rail|Western Commuter]]|<br/>Clonsilla to M3 Parkway shuttle Commuter service<br/>[[Dublin-Navan railway line]]|Western Commuter<br/>(Navan Branch)|col=00A550}}
{{s-note|text=Proposed}}
{{rail line one to two|previous=[[Dunboyne railway station|Dunboyne]]|next1=[[Dunshaughlin railway station|Dunshaughlin]]|route1=[[Commuter (Iarnród Éireann)|Commuter]]<br/> Dublin-Navan railway line|Western Commuter<br/>(Navan Branch)|col1=00A550|next2=Terminus|route2=[[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]]<br/>DART+ West (M3 Parkway Branch)|Western Commuter|Dublin-Navan railway line|(Dunboyne Branch)|col2=00bb00}}
}}

=== Bus Services ===
The station is no longer served by any buses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus Eireann Timetables - Regional Services by County |url=http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=247 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042053/http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=247 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>

==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 railway station|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.

==See also==
[[List of railway stations in Ireland]]
* [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]]
* [[Dublin–Navan railway line|Navan line]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|M3 Parkway railway station}}
[http://www.irishrail.ie/M3%20Parkway Irish Rail M3 Parkway Station Website]

{{Railway stations served by Iarnród Éireann}}

[[Category:Iarnród Éireann stations in County Meath]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the Republic of Ireland opened in 2010]]