AN Irish train station that was abandoned after being built 15 years ago is set to open for the first time this month.
Built in 2009 at a cost of €6million, Kishoge station has sat idle – but is set to open this month.
The station in Clonburris was the last station built in a series of new developments in west Dublin and Kildare.
These developments were an effort to improve commuter services from the south-west of Dublin.
From August 26, the station will start serving locals after refurbishment and road realignment.
Iarnrod Eireann noted that the station hadn’t opened due to a number of economic reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kishoge station is located on the South Western Commuter route from Dublin Heuston as part of the Kildare Route Project.
It will be station number 146 in the network.
The company noted: “Once DART+ South West is completed, the station will be served by a DART service.
“Upon opening it will be served by Portlaoise commuter services.”
Sinn Féin‘s Dublin Mid-West Deputy TD Mark Ward explained: “I have been raising the redevelopment of the train station since I was first elected to the Dáil.
“This is not the first approximate date that I have received from the NTA, last year I was told that it would be open in Q2 of this year, a month previous to that I was told it would open in the Spring of this year.
“In February 2023, I was told it would be in operation by the end of that year.
“This is the first time that I have received a precise date, so I expect this to be the date that it opens”.
He noted that the station’s opening is key to developing the Clonburris area further – with thousands of new homes set to be built there.
He said: “This vital transport link was proposed to facilitate the population of Clonburris SDZ and was developed in 2009.
“The crash halted the delivery of these homes and this put a stop on the opening of the station.
“We are now seeing the delivery of these homes in Clonburris and, rightfully, these new residents will have a train route into the city.
“The train station will also be available for the DART+ South West service between Dublin city centre and Hazelhatch & Celbridge, when it is rolled out.
“The next stage of this process is delivering affordable prices for our public transport.
“I look forward to advocating for these when the service opens.”
