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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 1

Written Answers. - Rail Services.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

37 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will meet Iarnród Éireann to discuss the possibility of an order to set a maximum number of passengers to be carried on carriages on Iarnród Éireann trains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29749/01]

The imposition of a limit on the number of passengers to be carried on carriages on Iarnród Éireann's trains would be an operational matter for the company. Iarnród Éireann has a statutory responsibility for ensuring the safety of its passengers. It is therefore a matter for the company to satisfy itself that the number of passengers being carried in any train or carriage does not compromise overall passenger safety.

There has been continuing growth in passenger numbers in the past few years and this has resulted in heavy loading at peak periods, in particular on the weekday DART and suburban services and on the weekend inter-city services. I am aware of the discomfort that passengers have experienced as a result of this. To address the current difficulties, the Government is committed to providing additional capacity on the railway network. Significant funding has been and continues to be made available to Iarnród Éireann for investment to improve the safety of the network, increase the physical capacity of the system and improve the quality, reliability and speed of services.

In 2000, ten new DART cars were brought into service and an additional 16 DART cars have already entered service this year. A further 12 DART cars have recently been delivered and will go into service early next year. These increases in rolling stock on the DART line will increase passenger capacity from 14,000 when DART services were launched in 1984 to almost 21,000, an increase of 50%.

In relation to the suburban network, 20 diesel rail cars were delivered in 2000 for use on the upgraded Maynooth line. These new railcars have increased the capacity of the Maynooth line by 100% at peak times. A further 80 diesel railcars are on order for delivery in 2002-03. The first of these is due for delivery in June 2002.

Furthermore, the national development plan provides for the acquisition by Iarnród Éireann of 20 new mainline rail carriages. I understand Iarnród Éireann is evaluating proposals in that regard but that the board has not yet taken a decision in the matter and no formal proposals have been submitted to my Department.
The ongoing delivery of the new rolling stock will substantially increase the available capacity to deal with peak periods and should help to alleviate the present crowding difficulties. I have advised the House previously that there are no safety standards in place in relation to overcrowding of trains either in this country or at EU level. However, the railway inspecting officers of my Department have been in contact with Iarnród Éireann on a number of occasions drawing their attention to the importance of constantly reviewing the matter of crowding of trains.
In February 2001, an independent review of Iarnród Éireann's strategy for controlling crowding on commuter trains in the Dublin area was completed. The report, commissioned by Iarnród Éireann, concluded that Iarnród Éireann had implemented a number of important measures to control crowding on its commuter services but also identified additional options which they recommended for further evaluation by Iarnród Éireann. I am awaiting the result of Iarnród Éireann's evaluation of these options.
However, the report did not address all the issues that the railway inspectorate of my Department had anticipated, specifically safety management on the inter-city trains. The chief railway inspecting officer of my Department has informed Iarnród Éireann that this matter will have to be dealt with appropriately in a safety case which will be required of Iarnród Éireann under the forthcoming railway safety legislation. In this context, the chief railway inspecting officer has indicated to the company that he would like this element of the safety case to be dealt with as a matter of priority.
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