Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
97. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the total planned investment in heavy and light rail in the current national development plan; the major projects involved; the estimated cost and completion date of each; if he will propose additional rail investment in the forthcoming review of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1013/21]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to be aware of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Project Tracker which is available at the following link and shows information on all of the major projects and programmes (including details around timings and costings) in the existing National Development Plan:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6db7c4-investment-projects-and-programmes-tracker/
The most notable projects and programmes under current ‘construction’ include:
- The €1billion Exchequer investment in the protection and renewal of the national rail network over the period 2020 to 2024;
- The €150million investment in new rail cars which will primarily serve commuter services in the Leinster region;
- The €135million investment in a new National Train Control centre which will improve the management of rail services across the network;
- The almost €100million investment in the Luas Green Line Capacity Enhancement project;
- The approximate €40million additional investment in track relaying on the Dublin Cork line which will improve line speeds and service reliability; and
- The City Centre Resignalling Project in Dublin which is scheduled for completion this year.
- The ‘Big Lift’ programme which is upgrading stations across the network to help those with mobility issues access rail services.
These projects are in addition to a range of others in the planning and design phase such as:
- DART+ which is a multi-billion euro programme of investment in the Greater Dublin Area rail network;
- Improvements planned at each of Ceannt, Colbert, Kent and Plunkett stations
- Light rail in Cork with consultants appointed last year to examine route options
- Light rail extensions in Dublin with consultation starting last year on Luas Finglas’ Emerging Preferred Route ; and
- MetroLink.
Notwithstanding the wide range of investments already underway or planned I believe there is scope for enhanced rail services and infrastructure in Cork, Galway and Limerick in line with their metropolitan area transport strategies and I will certainly be examining opportunities in that regard during the review of the National Development Plan.
Finally, this year will also see commencement of a new Strategic Rail Review to examine the potential of inter-urban and inter-regional rail, including the potential for increased rail freight.
