Vol. 549 No. 4
117 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if and when funding will be made available through her Department to enable the improvement of the national railway network between Dublin and Portlaoise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7003/02]
Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a major investment programme to upgrade the south-west rail corridor, including Portlaoise, into Heuston to provide additional capacity. This is being designed to meet the predicted demand levels for rail services on the corridor in question and is one of the projects benefiting under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The project is also included in the DTO strategy "A Platform for Change".
Works at Heuston Station will cost an estimated €117 million and over €65 million in EU and Exchequer funds is being provided this year. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that this work, over the next 18 months, will lead to improvements in commuter and intercity services. This work will increase the number of platforms in Heuston Station from five to nine, with platforms lengthened for increased number of services; remodel the trackwork at Heuston and the approaches to the station to separate long distance trains from commuter trains; allow faster journey times for all trains into and out of Heuston Station; re-signal the Heuston and Inchicore cabin areas to modern computerised signalling; and provide a secondary concourse to improve customer comfort and facilities at Heuston.
Iarnród Éireann will also start taking delivery this year of 80 new diesel railcars at a cost of approximately €2 million each, which will lead to increased capacity on outer suburban routes, including Portlaoise to Dublin. Funding for these railcars is being provided by the Exchequer and EU as well as from CIE's resources. I expect to receive plans shortly from Iarnród Éireann to further increase the track and signalling capacity along the Kildare line to cater for growth over the coming years.
As part of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 proposals, Iarnród Éireann is examining tenders for the supply of up to 67 new mainline locomotive-hauled carriages. These trains on entry into service will provide a significant improvement in the quality of mainline services on all inter-city routes.
