Alan Kelly
Question:272. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of making the train fleet and train stations wheelchair accessible. [1808/23]
View answerWednesday, 18 January 2023
Questions (272)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing an accessible, integrated and sustainable public transport network.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for progressively making public transport accessible, including train fleets and train stations, I have forwarded your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
I am writing to you concerning the matter you raised in Parliamentary Question No. 272 on 18 January last which has been referred to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for reply.
Heavy Rail Fleet
All of the train sets operated by Iarnród Éireann are accessible internally. The main constraint for wheelchair users is that a ramp is required to be placed between the platform and carriage by a member of staff which requires advance notice and booking. In addition, not all rail stations are wheelchair accessible.
Iarnród Éireann have reduced the 24-hour notice for assistance on their trains down to 4-hour notice on their DART, Northern Commuter and Maynooth lines, and on the Cork/Cobh/Midleton route. An App is also under development for passengers booking this assistance.
It is planned that a Customer Service Agent will be on each of Iarnród Éireann’s Inter City services to assist all passengers, including those with disabilities, on those services. The total planned complement of 120 personnel have now been hired so it is planned to trial a reduction of advance notice of assistance from 24 hour down to 12 hour advance notice and the situation will be monitored.
The new DART+ fleet, which are being purchased, include for a retractable ramp between the carriage and the platform, to allow for easier access and egress for all passengers.
Rail Stations
Iarnród Éireann has 145 stations across the rail network and in 2014 a total of 54 stations were identified as requiring wheelchair accessibility enhancements. Works are ongoing at various stations in line with available funding. Typical of the type of works required, footbridges over the railway tracks and lifts have been installed at Carlow, Ennis and Edgeworthstown stations, and works are nearing completion on the installation of new footbridges and lifts in Dalkey and Gormanstown stations and construction recently commenced at Little Island Station in Cork. Design development, appraisal and planning is ongoing at various other stations for bridge and lifts to be installed.
NTA is also funding a major programme of investment in lift and escalator replacement and upgrade, which will benefit passengers with reduced mobility. Since 2020, 47 lifts and 2 escalators have been replaced or renovated in rail stations nationwide.
In a complementary programme, significant capital investment has been allocated to ensure that the lifts are operational for all passengers in the rail stations nationwide. A Lift Call System has been installed to try to minimise the damage caused to lifts due to vandalism. 43 lifts have this feature installed in them to date with 13 planned in 2023. Under this programme, the amount of breakages have significantly reduced.
As part of the 2014 review it was concluded that the cost of completing all of the works identified would be €79 million (at 2014 prices). Works amounting to approximately €16 million had been carried out to the end of 2022 under the Accessibility Retrofit Programme. The estimated cost of completing the outstanding works is in the order of €115 million (when construction inflation and other changes in costs since 2014 are taken into account).
I hope that the above information is of assistance.