Ivor Callely
Question:53 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress to increase commuter capacity on DART services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4092/02]
Written Answers. - Rail Services.
Ivor Callely
Question:121 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the daily estimate of commuters using the DART; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4097/02]
Derek McDowell
Question:132 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she is examining the possibility of opening new DART stations in the Dublin area. [4626/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 121 and 132 together.
Iarnród Éireann inform me that up to 80,000 passengers use the DART service daily. A further 36,500 travel on the outer suburban services. Substantial capacity has been added to the DART network since 2000, with the acquisition of 26 new DART carriages. A further 12 were delivered late last year and will enter service in the coming months. These 38 carriages are the first new carriages purchased for the DART network since the service commenced in 1984. The entry into service of the recently delivered 12 new DART carriages will result in a 50% increase in capacity on the DART network in the last 18 months.
The next phase in the DART expansion programme is to provide for the lengthening of platforms to accommodate eight car trains, a major upgrade of the signalling capacity to allow an increased number of trains in the city centre area, increased power supply for operating the enhanced network and upgrading station access to accommodate increased passenger numbers. Iarnród Éireann also holds an option on a further 36 DART cars to provide eight-car DART trains.
Some £7.2 million, €9.14 million, in Exchequer funding was allocated in respect of the DART expansion programme in 2001. The allocation of Exchequer funding to the project in 2002 will be decided upon when Iarnród Éireann comes forward with its detailed funding needs later this month. The Dublin Transportation Office strategy document Platform for Change, which sets out the strategy for the future development of public transport in Dublin, provides for upgrading existing stations but does not provide for the opening of any further stations along the DART line. However, additional stations on outer suburban services are planned.