Vol. 567 No. 2
224 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which it is proposed to improve the daily rail transport capacity of the Leixlip and Confey to Dublin rail lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14031/03]
225 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which it is proposed to improve the daily rail transport capacity of the Sallins-Dublin rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14032/03]
226 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which it is proposed to improve the daily rail transport capacity of the Kilcock-Dublin rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14033/03]
227 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which it is proposed to improve the daily rail transport capacity of the Maynooth-Dublin rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14034/03]
228 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the full extent of the current rail and bus services to Kilcock, County Kildare; the proposed extension or improvement of the service to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/03]
232 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve commuter transport to the various growing towns of north Kildare by road and rail; when he expects the benefit of proposed improvements to impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14039/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 228, inclusive, and 232 together.
The provision of passenger capacities on individual rail routes is an operational matter for Irish Rail, while the provision by Bus Éireann of capacity on individual bus routes is an operational matter for them. However, I understand from Irish Rail that in the period between 2000 and the end of 2002 they introduced 38 new DART carriages and 20 new diesel rail cars to Dublin suburban rail services. This allowed them, inter alia, to deliver a 100% capacity increase on the Maynooth-Dublin line. The first phase of the Kildare route enhancement will be delivered in 2003. This involves the construction of a turn-back facility at Newbridge and eight-car platforms at Sallins and Hazlehatch.
The delivery of 80 new diesel rail cars to Irish Rail has already commenced and Irish Rail has informed me they will all be in service by the end of this year. They are destined for use on outer suburban services serving Dublin and Cork. The completion of the work on the Kildare line, mentioned above, and the commissioning of the new rail cars will increase peak-hour capacity as follows: Northern line – 43%; Arklow-Dublin – 30%; Maynooth line – 24%; and Kildare line – 130%.
Irish Rail has recently embarked on phase one of what is known as the DASH project – DART and suburban enhancement – to cater for the operation of eight-car DARTs. This project will be completed in 2005. Phase two of the DASH project involves the resignalling of the tracks to cater for shorter headways, allow for more frequent trains and increase the number of trains passing through Connolly Station from ten to 12 trains per hour in each direction. This will allow the operation of more trains in the morning and evening peaks on the Maynooth line.
Bus Éireann assures me that it monitors passenger loads on all of its routes into Dublin from the Kildare area and will respond with additional frequencies as demand increases. Since 2000, Bus Éireann has increased its capacity on commuter routes into Dublin by 40%. Up to 50% of new vehicle purchases under the NDP have been allocated to such routes.
