Vol. 509 No. 6
172 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of new carriages for the DART service currently on order; the additional seating capacity that will be available when these go into service; the expected date of delivery of these carriages; and the extent of her longer term plans to invest in additional rolling stock for this service as it develops and is extended to serve new stations. [21154/99]
The total number of DART carriages currently on order is 26. Ten of the carriages, co-funded under the EU Operational Programme for Transport (1994-99), (OPT), will be delivered in early November 1999.
In February 1999, a contract was placed for a further 16 carriages which will be delivered during October/November 2000. These carriages are being funded by the EU under the OPT and by the Exchequer.
Following delivery, commissioning of the carriages takes approximately eight weeks and they will then be introduced into service immediately.
The 26 new carriages will be used to enhance existing services and to operate six car train sets. They will also help to cater for the extended DART network to Malahide and Greystones. They will increase the DART fleet from 80 to 106 carriages which will result in an increase in passenger seating capacity of 1,040 and total passenger carrying capacity of 5,200 places.
The Dublin Transportation Blueprint 2000-06, prepared by the Dublin Transportation Office proposes the phased purchase of an additional 46 DART carriages. This proposal is currently being considered as part of the preparatory work for the national development plan.
Further measures to improve suburban rail services in addition to DART have also been identified in the DTO Blueprint and will also be considered in the NDP context. Moreover, on my instructions, CIE has also commissioned a consultancy team to undertake a strategic review of the Dublin suburban rail network in the longer term. I expect the final report to be completed before the end of the year.
