Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
8. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeframe in relation to the yet-to-be-published data relating to the proposed Irish rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29766/23]
View answer53. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport what consideration his Department is giving to further infrastructural investments in the rail transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30191/23]
View answerThe Minister of State touched on it earlier, but could he provide a timeframe for the yet-to-be-published national rail strategy?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 53 together.
As the Deputies may be aware, the all-island strategic rail review is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The results of the review will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades to 2050, in line with net carbon-zero targets in both jurisdictions.
The review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities, including the potential for higher or high speed; enhancing regional accessibility; supporting balanced regional development, with a particular focus on the north west; and improving rail connectivity to our international gateways, including the role of rail freight.
The review is considering the scope for improved rail services and infrastructure along the various existing, or potential future, corridors of the network, including disused and closed lines. The review has been informed by a public consultation process that concluded last year and which received a significant response both North and South.
This is the first all-island review of the rail network since the formation of the State and will provide a framework to develop a much-improved rail network in the decades ahead. Work on the review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of strategic environmental assessment, SEA, public consultation in July. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it will be submitted for the approval of the Government in the autumn.
In parallel with that process, the report will also be submitted for approval to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, final approval and publication will be considered taking into account the relevant decision-making framework and legislation in Northern Ireland at that time. It is expected that the final review will be published in autumn 2023.
Hopefully, we will get to see something within this rail strategy that points to better and more focused national and regional development right across the country, including in the midlands and the north west. As I stated earlier, we need to rebalance the distribution of infrastructure in this State.
I already mentioned to the Minister of State, and he agreed, about the importance of Dublin Port. I point out to him that Dublin Port has more than 80% of all container traffic coming into the country. A lot of that comes in and goes out from the west. A rail head in Ballina servicing Waterford Port would be a big improvement. Beyond that, we also need to look at commuter rail. Currently, I can drive from Waterford to the environs of Dublin in probably about an hour and 45 minutes, but if I go by train it is two and a half hours before I even think of grabbing other public transport to get me there. Does the Minister of State know where we are going in terms of commuter rail within the strategy?
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I eagerly await the publication of this crucial review. As Deputy Shanahan has rightly pointed out, it gives us an opportunity to rebalance and reopen potential lines up and down the country, which is something of which we should all be supportive. One of the matters I hope will be covered in the review is the obvious need for the three or possibly even four-tracking of our northern commuter line, particularly in the suburban and city limits, to facilitate more transit. I would be surprised if the review did not include such considerations. It is obvious that, with the significant number of additional rail cars that have been ordered by Irish Rail, something has to give. My opinion in that respect is that we have to consider three-tracking or four-tracking parts of the northern commuter line.
In response to Deputy Shanahan, we support rebalancing and providing opportunities for our regional ports. Rail freight would be an important component of that. Given the overall growth trajectory of the economy and the connection between port capacity and growth in GDP, it is likely that all our ports, including Dublin Port, will have a growth requirement.
It is important we look at the economic data and the projections on that. We are ambitious to develop our regional ports and the opportunities that arise from the all-island strategic rail review will be enormous and transformational if we can underpin the recommendations with investment over the coming years.
In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, I cannot give the specifics of what the rail review will set out. However, it is about trying to improve sustainable connectivity between cities, including potential for higher speed, enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development and improving rail connectivity, including the role of rail freight. The review, itself, when it is published for environmental assessment in July, will set out the detail on the various options related to specific lines across the country
I hope that when this strategy comes out, it will have a long-term focus and be the basis of planning for the next 25 or 30 years, not something looking at five or ten years because rail infrastructure development is a long-term goal. The Minister of State highlighted regional rebalancing and the interconnection of our cities. In our own area in the south east, I would like to see the Waterford to Wexford line reopened and I would also like to see improvements for the Waterford to Limerick Junction line and beyond because we do not have that connectivity. We lost the rail line to Cork because we dug it up many years ago which was short-sighted. Beyond that, I hope the Minister of State will point to the energy that will power rail into the future. Where are we going? Are we going with electric or are we potentially going with hydrogen? I would like to see something on that in the strategy. When the strategy is published, I hope it will be the basis for something to build on and not just a report to be filed away for the next five years.
Speed and sustainability are clearly the ambition for all of us when it comes to this review's publication throughout the country and not just on my own commuter line. For sustainability in the modern environment, apart from freight clearly it must be electric. My personal ambition would be to see the electrification of the entire network in the coming decades, primarily for the purposes of ensuring that we can withdraw diesel or even hybrids from the rail network, exclusively for passengers of course. I appreciate that at present, it is not likely in the freight area. I would like to be able to stand over whatever review comes to publication in the autumn in terms of that particular ambition. As I said a number of different lines around the country could benefit from additional tracking, particularly the northern commuter line to Belfast but also the likes of Cork and elsewhere.
I believe everybody across the House, probably including the Minister of State, shares the frustration with the delay in publishing this report. Just as all roads lead to Dublin, all rail tracks lead to Dublin as well. We have come to have a rail system that is hub-and-spoke and what we need is the outside of the wheel. In that context, the mothballed connection between Rosslare and Waterford city and then from Waterford city on to Limerick Junction can be highly important strategic infrastructure. We know how this State sometimes struggles to bring large capital projects in on budget and on time. Were we to start today and to try to build infrastructure like that from scratch, it would be into the billions to build that line. Whether it is to upgrade to improve the line speed and return to use that connection between Ireland's fifth city and Ireland's third city and indeed improved connectivity to Cork and Galway which we would get from that route, it would be significant value for money in my opinion.
We have all been awaiting the all-Ireland rail review. Obviously, we would like to see an executive up and running in the North, and I hope that would not hold it up. I am very glad to hear that either way we will look at the pieces that need to be done from the point of view of moving it on. I was going to ask whether the timeline still applies regarding the increase in the number of Enterprise trains on the Belfast to Dublin route. I think we are in stage 2 of consultation for the DART+ Coastal North route. We all welcome the increase in DART services and particularly the electrification to Drogheda. I am somewhat concerned that this may cause delays to Enterprise services, which I have been told could take two and a half hours and would not suit anybody. We need to look into whatever solutions are necessary. People have talked about the possibility of four tracks instead of two on the Malahide to Connolly rail line. Whatever needs to be done needs to be done. Does the timeline for increasing the number of Enterprise trains still apply?
I appreciate everyone's input on this. In response to Deputy Shanahan, there are tremendous opportunities for regional connectivity, providing strategic growth and opportunities as part of the all-island rail review.
In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has previously outlined the order for battery electric carriages. Across the Government, we are ambitious on electrifying our network where possible, while having that overall development. I appreciate his input on that.
As Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said, the review will provide a catalyst for focus on growth for rail outside Dublin, getting more balanced regional development and allowing for a greater spread of population growth in population centres in the west, south and south east.
I will ask Irish Rail and the NTA to come back to Deputy Ó Murchú directly, as I do not have the specific timelines in front of me.
