Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 September 2022
16. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the date on which the North County Dublin Irish Rail services will receive new carriages for train services in the Greater Dublin Area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/22]
View answer18. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if new and extra train carriages will be provided for the Dublin to Waterford line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45996/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.
As the Deputies may be aware, there are two major relevant rail capacity enhancement projects under way.
Firstly, last December the Government issued approval in principle for the DART+ Programme. The DART+ Programme will double the rail capacity in the Greater Dublin Area and will be the cornerstone of rail investment in the Area for the coming years.
Government approval last December permitted Iarnród Éireann to enter into a ten-year procurement framework for new DART fleet and immediately purchase 95 new units. DART+ Fleet is of particular importance to upgrading the northern line from Connolly Station as it will enable improved services beyond Malahide, through north county Dublin and as far as Drogheda, in advance of any potential later electrification. This will be achieved through the use of battery-electric units on the northern line, delivering improved frequencies, better journey times and expanded services for passengers. This new DART fleet should enter service in 2025.
Secondly, there is the purchase of 41 additional intercity railcars, delivery of which has recently commenced. These new railcars will allow for enhanced services across the rail network when introduced into service in 2023.
I have been advised by the National Transport Authority that it is working with Iarnród Éireann to review where best to deploy the 41 new passenger railcars, which will increase capacity in many areas across the network. These new carriages give us the flexibility to respond to changing passenger demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of this ongoing work by the NTA and Iarnród Éireann on a network-wide basis, in respect of the Dublin to Waterford line, consideration will be given providing new and additional carriages where demand, available carriages and suitable infrastructure support such provision.
Deputies may also be interested in the draft Iarnród Éireann train timetable recently published for public consultation. This includes a range of proposed rail service improvements to apply from this December. This includes a proposed new morning return train service, Monday to Friday, on the Waterford line, operating between Carlow and Dublin.
