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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Rush Hour Train Services.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the totally inadequate rail service which my constituents from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Donabate, Malahide and Portmarnock are forced to use when going to and from work, college and school. The trains are overcrowded, the service is inadequate, the timetable is unsuitable and the passengers are concerned for their safety. I want action from the Government and from CIE management to provide a satisfactory rail service.

Lest the Dáil think these complaints are my view, I did a survey of rail users on Tuesday, 11 February and received a huge response which indicated the public's frustration. When asked if they felt the rail service was adequate, 79 per cent said no; if there was overcrowding on their regular train, 96 per cent replied yes; if the timetable was to their satisfaction, 71 per cent said no; if they were concerned for their safety on the trains, 60 per cent said yes. The level of concern for safety increased among passengers boarding at stations nearer the city by which stage there is only standing room left on the trains. I travel on the trains and fully understand the views of my constituents. To be fair to CIE, 82 per cent felt that the trains were generally on time; 54 per cent regarded the service as value for money and 53 per cent felt that station facilities were adequate.

The main suggestions made by my constituents to improve the rail service in north County Dublin were as follows: more carriages and trains at peak times; later trains from the city in the evenings; a Sunday train service; later trains on Saturday evenings; a proper public address system on trains and platforms; better access for the disabled; smoking bans to be enforced; improved station facilities such as public telephones, security in car parks, proper toilet facilities, automatic ticket machines and better lighting.

One issue of major concern has been expressed to me — the inability of CIE to respond to the unexpected. For example, on 18 November last an empty passenger train was derailed which meant it was not possible to run trains between Killester and Connolly station. On 21 November the 7.35 a.m. train from Dundalk failed outside Harmonstown and needed a locomotive from Pearse station. On each of these occasions the response from CIE was pathetic. On the first occasion, the bus transfer system was an abject failure and, on the second, passengers were left sitting on the train for hours due to a delay in the arrival of the promised locomotive. The least passengers are entitled to is an efficient emergency response when the unexpected occurs. CIE management should and must be properly organised and have systems in place to provide an efficient response which includes regular and accurate information.

I have been pressing CIE for a considerable period to carry out improvements to meet the expressed needs of north County Dublin rail users. It stated in response to my queries: "CIE is starved of resources...and simply cannot provide the quality transport service our customers deserve". I do not accept these excuses. CIE management has a responsibility to organise its affairs in such a manner as to meet the reasonable expectations that when a customer buys a ticket he or she will at least have a seat on a safe, clean train with proper toilet facilities.

The Government also has a responsibility in the matter. I call on the Minister to provide sufficient funding as a matter of urgency to allow CIE to purchase additional carriages and extend platforms to enable my constituents to have the service for which they are paying. I assure him and the rail users of my constituency that if he does not do so immediately, my party will in the near future.

Under the transport Acts, the provision of transport services is a matter for Córas Iompar Éireann and its operating subsidiary companies. The issues which the Deputy raised clearly relate to operational aspects which are legally the responsibility of Iarnród Éireann. The fact that an annual Exchequer subvention forms part of the resources available to Iarnród Éireann does not and cannot in any way alter the fact that the legal and practical responsibility for all aspects of the running of the railway falls on Iarnród Éireann. I have no function in such matters.

The State makes substantial resources available to Córas Iompar Éireann in support of the range of socially necessary services which cannot be operated by the companies within the group on a commercial basis. This year these resources amount to £105 million. The Deputy cannot, therefore, talk about the inadequacy of the annual subsidy made available by the State. The disbursement of these funds to the individual companies is a matter for the CIE board and subsequent allocation in support of particular areas of operation is a matter for those companies. These are internal matters for the group and, again, I have no function.

I now turn to the specific rail services to which the Deputy referred. In line with population growth and increasing congestion on the roads, the demand for commuter services has risen substantially. Iarnród Éireann has responded by assigning additional capacity to the corridor in terms of extra services and longer trains.

Since we are talking about rush hour services, it is hardly surprising that heavy loadings are involved. This is the norm on commuter trains worldwide. It is disingenuous to suggest that services of this kind can be provided on a sustainable and cost effective basis by any transport operator if maximum use is not made of available resources. All public transport operators must strike a balance between the capacity required to meet demand at peak times and that needed in off-peak times. It would be unrealistic to expect Iarnród Éireann to purchase trains which would be used at peak times only and lie idle most of the time.

The Deputy suggests that the current arrangements present a safety hazard. I assure him and the general public that Iarnród Éireann regards safety as a matter of paramount importance. I am advised that high loading factors such as those experienced on Dublin's suburban train services at peak hours do not jeopardise safety as regards breaking power or the body strength of the trains in question.

Rolling stock on the Balbriggan-Dublin line has been upgraded substantially in recent years and much of it is now of mainline inter-city standard. A natural desire by the Deputy to present the best case he can should not lead him to make irresponsible allegations which would have the effect of raising unfounded safety concerns on the part of the travelling public.

Iarnród Éireann is very much alive to the need to develop and improve the quality of the service it offers to customers and this applies to Dublin's northern suburban line as much as to any other sector of the national rail network. The line has already benefited from the investment in recent years in track work and signalling as part of the Dublin-Belfast project. Looking to the future, the company has plans to increase capacity and comfort for northern suburban passengers through the introduction of additional services and new rolling stock, including the proposed extension of the DART service to Malahide which is scheduled for completion in 1999.

I heartily welcome the company's positive commitment to making optimum use of existing and planned additional resources in delivering quality, safe and cost effective services to its customers on Dublin's northern line.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 February 1997.

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