Robert Troy
Question:88. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport what measures are being undertaken to ensure greater bicycle storage facilities on rail carriages. [44539/23]
View answerThursday, 12 October 2023
Questions (88)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware, to enable additional capacity to be added to Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) services within as short a timeframe as possible, an order was placed in December 2019 for the provision of 41 Inter-City Railcar (ICR) intermediate carriages. These ICRs have been delivered and will enter service next year.
Each of the new ICR intermediate carriages incorporates a large multipurpose area at one end. These areas will have sufficient space to accommodate 2 bicycles; combined with the bicycle rack already located in the cab/end vehicle of each ICR unit, this will enable at least 4 bicycles to be carried on each ICR unit, which aligns with the latest bicycle carriage requirements applicable to new and refurbished trains destined for operation within the European Union (e.g. each new DART unit will have space for at least 4 bicycles).
In addition, in 2023 funding has been allocated to an IÉ project to install new bicycle racks and tip-up seats area on existing units. Two seating bay areas consisting of 7 seats will be removed and replaced with 4/5 bicycle spaces and 6 tip-up seats.
Overall, the combination of the new ICRs along with the upgrade of existing trains will help to accommodate more bicycles on rail carriages.