Disused Kishogue train station needs €3.8m refurbishment

A DISUSED train station in Kishoge in Lucan – which was built 13 years ago but has yet to open – needs a €3.8m refurbishment in order for the station to be operational.

The €6m station was previously described as a ‘ghost station’ by former councillor William Lavelle, as it has been left idle since construction was completed in 2009.

It was originally constructed as one of the last of a series of new stations on the South Western Commuter route, in anticipation of there being significant development around the station.

However, the expected residential developments didn’t go ahead as a result of the recession, and over the years the station has become damaged as a result of vandalism and degradation.

It was announced by Irish Rail this week that a refurbishment of the station, totalling €3.8m, will be required to bring the station up to standard in advance of the planned opening of it in late 2023.

This has been met with disappointment by local politicians, including local People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny. Deputy Kenny said: “It’s extremely disappointing that the train station is not yet open.

Because of this neglect it will now cost a significant amount of public money to open it.

“I have called on the NTA [National Transport Agency] and Irish Rail to open the station for years and for years we have been promised that it will.

“In 2018 the NTA/Irish Rail said that the station would be opened in 2020, and now we’re looking at the end of 2023.

“I’m very concerned that this date will be pushed even further because of the extra funding needed.

“It is incredible that at a time when we need more people to use public transport in order to reduce our CO2 emissions, this station is lying empty.

“I’m calling on the Minister for Transport to ensure that money is provided to open the station as soon as possible.”

Kishoge Station is located between Palmerstown/Fonthill and Adamstown stations and was initially built to serve a planned 1,000-unit residential development in Clonburris in 2009.