Bernard J. Durkan
Question:68 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the degree to which she will support the development of a commuter rail system as an alternative to roads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16792/99]
Written Answers. - Rail Network.
I have indicated on a number of occasions both my own and the Government's support for the further development of the suburban rail network. This is being done in the context of addressing deficiencies in the public transport system and to provide alternatives to increasing traffic congestion in the greater Dublin area.
The Exchequer has provided almost £20 million to co-finance suburban rail projects over 1999 and 2000. These projects include the acquisition of additional suburban railcars and DART carriage, track and rail signalling works and platform extensions.
Last March I announced a dual initiative aimed at transforming rail transport in the coming years. This approach will place train travel at the heart of suburban commuting as well as involving largescale spending on rail and safety in the next five years. The proposals for suburban rail included both short and long-term initiatives.
The focus of the short-term programme will be to make more intensive use of the existing rail corridors through possible measures such as provision of additional DART and suburban rail rolling stock and will include: increasing train sizes to eight cars to ease overcrowding; the lengthening of station platforms to accommodate longer trains; upgrading of the line between Connolly and Heuston stations; the development of new stations, Intel, Lucan North, Ashington, Lucan South, at suitable locations, linked to housing and industrial development.
At the request of the Government, CIE will complete a consultancy study by the end of the year on a longer-term suburban rail development programme. This study will address the following issues: a possible new inland rail link to Navan; possible separation of long distance and commuter rail traffic through the construction of by-pass rail lines; quadrupling of existing double lines where feasible; enhancement of rail service to the development centres identified by the strategic planning guidelines.
The short-term rail development programme is already included in the DTO transport blueprint.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:69 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has set a deadline for the completion of the enhancement works on the Maynooth to Dublin rail line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16794/99]
Infrastructural work on the Dublin to Maynooth rail line was approved for EU funding and is already under way. All contracts for this work must be signed by the end of 1999 and the work completed before the end of 2000.