Brian Stanley
Question:14. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the position on the future of the Ballybrophy-to-Limerick rail line; and his plans to increase usage of the line. [35622/20]
View answerThursday, 12 November 2020
Questions (14, 66)
Brian Stanley
Question:66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he plans to increase the use of public transport; and his further plans for the upgrade of the Ballybrophy-to-Limerick rail line. [35623/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 66 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibliity for ensuring the provision of public transport services, and Iarnród Éireann - which owns and operates the rail network - provides passenger rail services under public service obliation (PSO) arrangements with the NTA.
The Deputy asks about the future of the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line; I can assure him first of all that there are no plans for the closure of any part of the rail network. Indeed our firm intention is to invest heavily in the quality of the network and the size of the rail fleet, in order to address capacity constraints and expand services in many parts of the country. Initiatives such as the Cork Line Re-Laying Programme will improve journey times for passengers and increase the attractiveness of rail as a sustainable travel option. Ambitious fleet investment programmes will also see the overall Iarnród Éireann fleet grow over the coming years, with 41 additional Intercity Railcar carriages currently contracted, and a further contract for up to 600 carriages over the coming decade set to be awarded in 2021. These initiatives will help expand capacity in areas where it is badly needed and areas where future population growth and development is expected.
However, the route about which the Deputy asks is not a route that has been struggling to accommodate large passenger numbers. Iarnród Éireann identifies Ballybrophy to Limerick as a continually low-density route in terms of passenger numbers, although the company has, over many years, operated varying levels of services during periods of both economic growth and recession. I understand that Iarnród Éireann has also undertaken both national and local promotions on the route, but that such efforts have not resulted in any significant uptake and passenger numbers have remained very low. In this context, the NTA has no plans at present to increase services on this particular route.
Iarnród Éireann promotes usage of rail services, both in national promotion and through local initiatives. I am told that it has a number of partnerships which support this, including on the Ballybrophy-Limerick route. The company has stated that it will continue to promote all routes and engage with local communities to seek new business opportunities and examine the potential for revisions and enhancements to timetables which will benefit specific customer groups.
Finally, the Deputy is probably aware that some track and bridge renewal works are taking place at present along the line. Iarnród Éireann expects that these works will be concluded by this Sunday, with some bus transfers operating between Limerick and Nenagh in the meantime. The company advises that full services are due to resume on Monday, 16th November.