Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rail Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

82 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when, in the context of the development plans for Iarnród Éireann, provision will be made for the upgrading of rail services between Connolly and Heuston stations, thereby facilitating easy access to the DART for commuters from County Kildare who currently have difficulty getting to work given the traffic congestion; if these requirements are likely to be met in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22802/00]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

There is an existing railway connecting Connolly and Heuston stations via the Phoenix Park tunnel. Due to track capacity constraints in the city centre it would not be possible to route existing commuter trains on the Kildare line through Heuston and on to Connolly Station. Connolly Station currently caters for the Maynooth line and northern line suburban trains, DART and mainline rail services.

The Dublin Transportation Office strategy for transport in the greater Dublin area for 2000 to 2016, A Platform for Change, addresses the longer term strategy to overcome these constraints, through the construction of an interconnector tunnel from Heuston Station via Pearse Station to the docklands and linking to the Maynooth and Northern lines. This was also identified as the preferred solution in the Dublin suburban rail strategic review study commissioned by CIE and completed earlier this year.