Vol. 563 No. 1
477 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which passenger embarking and disembarking facilities have been extended in line with safety requirements at Sallins and Hazelhatch railway stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7447/03]
478 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which commuter and provincial railway stations have been upgraded in line with safety requirements to facilitate longer trains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7448/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together.
In recent years Iarnród Éireann has been engaged in a programme of platform lengthening throughout the Dublin area to accommodate longer trains. The programme is continuing this year, during which the platforms at Sallins and Hazelhatch stations will be extended to accommodate eight carriage trains.
479 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the maximum daily passenger capacity of the commuter railway stations at Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip and Confey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/03]
The platforms at Maynooth, Leixlip and Confey stations can cater for eight-car trains and it is planned to extend Kilcock later this year so that it too can cater for them. The capacity of a particular station will depend on the length and frequency of trains serving these stations. This year there will be an increase of 24% in capacity arising from the introduction of longer trains and extra frequencies on the Maynooth line following the introduction into service of 80 new diesel rail cars which have started to be delivered and are being commissioned.
480 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which rail improvement targets have been realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7450/03]
The national development plan provides that the objectives of rail investment are: to improve the safety of the network; to increase the physical capacity of the railway to cater for growing passenger demand; to exploit more fully the potential for development of the suburban rail network in the greater Dublin area; and to improve the quality, speed and reliability of services.
Significant progress has been made by Iarnród Éireann in respect of each of these targets. A sum of €533.7 million has been invested under the railway safety programme to date. This has resulted in the upgrade of more than 300 miles of track, the improvement or permanent closure of nearly 500 level crossings and the renewal of approximately 90 bridges. These works have improved the safety, speed and reliability of services.
481 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of rolling stock in respect of both commuter and provincial rail routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7451/03]
In addition to the new DART and diesel railcars delivered over the past two years, the first batch of 80 new diesel rail cars was delivered recently. The balance will be delivered over the coming months and enter service after commissioning later in the year. In 2002, 67 new main-line carriages and 40 new DART carriages were ordered and are being manufactured. This investment of approximately €310 million under the national development plan represents the most significant purchase of new rolling stock by Iarnród Éireann in decades. Additional rolling stock requirements will be considered in the context of the strategic rail review, which I hope to publish shortly.
