Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
143. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on investment in high-speed rail links between Dublin, Belfast and Cork as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18487/24]
View answerThe National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030 is a plan for a cleaner, greener, connected Ireland that supports communities and progresses our climate goals. Projects to be delivered under the NDP will help transform how we travel, connect us to our communities and help Ireland to halve transport greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The NDP noted that an All-Island Strategic Rail Review is currently being conducted to specifically consider the potential for enhanced inter-urban and inter-regional rail connectivity, including the opportunities for higher speeds on the rail network.
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, including on railway lines between Dublin and Cork, and Dublin and Belfast. The draft report recommends upgrading the core intercity railway network to line speeds of up to 200km/h.
Work on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review is now at an advanced stage and a draft report was published for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation in July 2023. The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29th September 2023 and submissions have been reviewed by officials from both jurisdictions.
It is expected that a final Review report, taking account of the comments raised in the consultation, will be submitted for Government approval in both jurisdictions and that the final Review will be published in the Summer.
As the Deputy may also be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC), which is noted within the NDP, provides the exchequer funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure, including the Dublin to Cork and Dublin to Belfast rail lines. This is the final year of the five-year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of €1.3 billion in exchequer funding will be made available to support delivery. This funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services. In December 2023, track and infrastructure upgrades carried out under IMMAC, facilitated an improvement in journey times on the Dublin – Cork route, including what is believed to be the fastest ever timetabled service at 2hrs and 14 minutes.
Additionally, funding of €165m has been approved for the Enterprise Fleet Replacement project under the new PEACEPLUS cross-border EU programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUBP), a North South Implementation Body established under the Good Friday Agreement. The balance of funding for the project will be provided jointly through the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The scope of the project is to replace the current Enterprise fleet of four train sets operating between Dublin and Belfast with eight train sets. This will deliver enhancements between Dublin and Belfast by increasing the frequency of the service and reducing journey times. An hourly frequency of service, with up to 16 return services per day, is proposed from initial operation in 2029, with journey times of 1 hour 55 minutes compared to an average journey time of circa 2 hours 10 minutes at present. Frequency improvements on the route are also envisaged in the shorter-term.
Noting the Iarnród Éireann's (IÉ's) responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to IÉ for a more detailed reply on the specific issues raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
