Vol. 548 No. 5
112 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the funding arrangements in place in relation to the upgrading of the Kildare line; the future funding arrangements; the time frames associated with the funding process; the time frames for completion of the upgrading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5314/02]
Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a major investment programme to upgrade the Kildare line to provide additional capacity. This is being designed to meet the predicted demand levels for rail services on the corridor in question and is one of the projects benefiting under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The project is also included in the DTO strategy, A Platform for Change.
The project involves developing Heuston Station as well as track and signalling work along the line to Kildare and is being funded from Exchequer and EU sources.
The work at Heuston Station will cost an estimated €117 million and more than €65 million is being provided this year. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that this work will over the next 18 months lead to increases in Kildare route commuter capacity and for a number of Intercity services. The first phase of this work will: increase the number of platforms in Heuston Station from five to nine, with platforms lengthened for increased number of services; remodel the trackwork at Heuston and the approaches to the station to allow for more flexible operations, and reduce delays; resignal the Heuston and Inchicore cabin areas to modern computerised signalling; and see a secondary concourse provided to improve customer comfort and facilities at Heuston.
Iarnród Éireann will also start taking delivery this year of 80 new diesel railcars.
When the work at Heuston Station is finished next year and when the rolling stock goes into service, there will be significant additional capacity for commuters. There will also be major safety benefits associated with the project.
In addition work is being planned to increase the capacity of the track and signalling system and my department is expecting to receive shortly a submission from Iarnród Éireann in that respect. The project is expected to be completed in 2005.
113 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has cleared funding for the provision of additional services on the Maynooth suburban rail line in 2002; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5372/02]
Significant work on the Maynooth suburban rail line was completed last year. Invest ment on the doubling of the track on the line and the provision of 20 additional diesel railcars amounted to approximately €55 million.
The next project to impact on the capacity of the route is the upgrading of Connolly Station. This project, currently at the design and planning stage, sets out to increase the capacity of the line between Connolly and Pearse Stations, thereby allowing extra trains through the city centre.
Exchequer funding of €7 million was provided for planning and design work on the project in 2001. Further Exchequer funds will be allocated in 2002 following receipt in the coming weeks by my Department of detailed cost estimates from Iarnród Éireann for planned works in the year ahead.
In addition, Iarnród Éireann will start taking delivery of 80 diesel rail cars during the year and it is their intention to deploy some of these carriages to increase the capacity on the Maynooth line.
