Rail Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2023

Thursday, 5 October 2023

Questions (4)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

4. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the negative affect the increase in the number of suburban DART services on the Intercity services from Belfast, Dundalk and Drogheda such as the Enterprise during peak times; the ticket-checking processes that occurs to prevent dangerous overcrowding at peak times (details supplied); if he has plans to increase the number of tracks from two to four on the Malahide to Connolly Station stretch of the line, similar to the improvement that has been carried out on the Cork line between Heuston Station and Hazelhatch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43236/23]

Oral answers (6 contributions)

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick

Is the Minister aware of the negative affect of the increase in the number of suburban DART services on the Intercity services from Belfast, Dundalk and Drogheda, such as the Enterprise, during peak times; the ticket-checking processes that occurs to prevent dangerous overcrowding at peak times of which details are provided; if he has plans to increase the number of tracks from two to four on the Malahide to Connolly stretch of the line, similar to the improvement that has been carried out on the Cork line between Heuston Station and Hazelhatch; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

The Government is committed to improving public transport, as I have just said, both bus and rail, and is backing up that commitment with significant investments across the network. There are investment plans for the northern commuter line, serving both Drogheda and Dundalk, which should improve the experience of passengers in the coming years. These improvements include the introduction next year of 41 new ICR units onto the fleet; the arrival of the new DART+ fleet and its likely entry into service by 2025; and the proposed replacement of the entire Enterprise fleet. These improvements will have short-, medium- and longer-term benefits to northern line passengers through the possibilities offered by the new ICR units to lengthen existing trainsets and cascades fleet across the network. We can also enhance DART+ services to Drogheda, potentially alleviating capacity on other services. We also intend, as I said, intend expanding service level and frequency on the Dublin to Belfast line with the new Enterprise fleet. Each of these investments is significant in its own right and, collectively, they represent a massive investment in the rail network along the northern line. The Deputy is correct to highlight that on limited parts of the network there are conflicts between enhanced service levels on commuter and intercity routes. The northern line is one such example where the Enterprise must share the line with a very popular and expanding commuter service. The draft strategic rail review recognised this issue and has recommended better segregation of intercity services from commuter services where possible. In considering the northern line, the review notes that there are a number of constraints along the line in relation to potential four-tracking and recommends further investigation. I can confirm that Iarnróid Éireann has received EU funding to support that further investigation; however, to be clear, it is a long-term project. I look forward to working with the Deputy in delivering improved transport services for the north east. Very much within that prioritisation that we have to do, the enhanced development of our rail services is one of the best investments we could make.

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick

I thank the Minister. As the Minister knows, thousands of people commute between Dundalk and Dublin every day. One of my constituents sent me an email during the week, on the subject of the 16:50 Dublin to Belfast train. The email states:

This evening, for the second time in eight days I had to stand all the way from Connolly station to Dundalk on the 16:50 Enterprise. On each occasion the incoming train arrived late with no expected arrival time advised... There was no one checking on tickets and no one managing to see how many people were going on board. Today, like last Tuesday, the aisle of each carriage was absolutely packed with passengers standing all the way to Dundalk, elderly and pregnant people have been left standing, there is not even room to sit on the floor. If there was a crash, it would be carnage as huge numbers of people were not secured and would be thrown all around the carriage. There was no checking of tickets on Irish Rail. I paid €28.15 return. I would be grateful if you could explain how Irish Rail are planning to compensate customers affected and ensure that current conditions on developing world transport will not continue on key routes in a wealthy country at first world prices.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

Obviously, that is a totally unsatisfactory customer experience. No one wants someone standing on the train all the way to Dundalk and all the various inconveniences that the Deputy listed. We need to improve the services and that is why we purchased the new ICR units. That is why we are buying and about to introduce the new battery electric trains so that we have greater capacity. That is not just on the Drogheda to Dundalk line; it is every part of the country. The Deputy will have seen recent announcements only last week of new early services to other parts of the country. There has been a significantly enhanced increase in rail capacity and in the number of passengers using it. The big fundamental issue on the northern line, and the real challenge going back to that question about €100 million, that does not include the four-tracking north of Connolly Station, which actually is the biggest constraint on the line. That project is in the greater Dublin area transport strategy which recommends it, the rail review recommends it and we will have to do it. It will cost several billion euro. It will be good for connecting Dublin to Belfast, not just Dundalk, and indeed we could go beyond, but that scale of investment is what is needed, if we are to be honest. If we are to be honest about transport debates, we need to show where the money for that is going to come from as well as everything else.

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick

I did my fair bit. I invested in a fully-electric car and I am proud to say that. However, I have been travelling up and down to Leinster House for the past 13 years. This morning was probably the worst. I left Dundalk at 6 a.m. It took me 20 minutes to get out of Dundalk. At Drogheda, it took about another ten or 15 minutes to get through the toll bridge. From Donabate the whole way to Merrion Street this morning, it was unbelievable. There were no accidents. I would have actually loved at one stage to wind my window down and get some fresh air but I cannot do that. Pregnant women and elderly people are standing up the whole time between Dundalk and Dublin and vice versa. The Minister talked about investment and the new services coming in. I would like to know when. There is talk that he did not spend almost €100 million of his budget recently on roads and other areas. A great deal of money is being talked about in terms of investment. However, there does not seem to be any improvement whatsoever. Will he show me where these improvements are? I have to go back to Dundalk and explain this to these elderly and pregnant people who stand the whole way from Dundalk to Connolly station. It is disgraceful.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

I will show the Deputy the improvement when we roll out the 41 new ICR units next year. I will show him the year after when we put in the new battery electric trains. I will go further. Next year we will also improve that line by building a charging station in Drogheda so that those battery electric trains can turn around and operate much quicker and at higher capacity. Improvements are on the way.

I wish to make a point. This is not anti-motorist. It is not saying there is a switch in prioritisation. The truth is that the M50 and the approach roads to it, as I said earlier, are full and no additional capacity is possible. The growth we can expect in our country and in this city cannot be catered for by car traffic. That will only make it worse for everyone.

I am sorry Deputy Kenny was late this morning, stuck in traffic because of the accident near Celbridge. Every day he knows that junction and that whole approach is backlogged and Deputy Fitzpatrick knows it is the same on the M1. There is nothing we can do about that in terms of increasing road capacity. There is no physical capability of increasing the road space so we have to invest in the alternative to make it better for everyone. That way, those who are in the cars will see the road space freed up.