Minister Varadkar Opens Hansfield Station

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Mr. Leo Varadkar T.D. today officially opened Hansfield Station in Dublin 15.

The station was originally built by developers as part of the M3 Parkway Rail Commuter project development which opened in 2010. The station was built as part of the Hansfield strategic development zone (SDZ), however Hansfield Station did not open at that time, as the developers were not in a position to build the access road. Iarnród Éireann has now built the access road with the co-operation of Fingal County Council, the National Transport Authority and the developers. The construction of the road was funded by the National Transport Authority.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Varadkar said: ‘This is a significant day for Hansfield and Ongar and marks the end of a long campaign to get the station opened. As a local representative, I am very pleased to see that trains are finally stopping at the station and I want to thank Iarnród Éireann, Fingal County Council, the NTA and developers for their efforts to resolve this issue. Residents can now take the Dunboyne train from here into the city, in just 25 minutes on the fastest services. The days of watching the trains passing Hansfield Station without stopping are thankfully now over’.

Speaking at the event Iarnród Éireann Director of Railway Undertaking Jim Meade said: “It is an honour for me and my colleagues in the railway to serve new communities. With the opening of Hansfield station we will be opening up the railway to the communities of Ongar and Barnwell. Although the number of residents in this area is now not as large as it was anticipated to be when the station was planned, the provision of this infrastructure future proofs essential services for when more residents move into the area”

It is anticipated that following changes to the SDZ, a planning application will be lodged with Fingal County Council for provision of a car park. There are currently 70 on street parking spaces at the station. The new station will provide a direct rail link for residents of Ongar and the surrounding area to the city centre.

Hansfield Station
· Peak journey time will be 25 minutes from Hansfield to Docklands
· Off-peak services will operate as a shuttle to Clonsilla to connect with Maynooth to Connolly/Pearse services.
· Services will operate every half hour in each direction at peak and off-peak, giving a total of 45 services on weekdays, on a modern Commuter train fleet.
· The station is accessible for those with mobility and sensory impairments.
· There are excellent connections in the city centre, with Docklands within walking distance of a wide catchment area, including the city centre, and the Grand Canal Dock area via the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
· Red Line Luas services are a short distance from the station, and Dublin Bus route 151 runs directly to the city centre and onwards towards Adamstown.
· 11 secure bike lockers will be provided at the station, which commuters can hire on a yearly basis for their bikes.