At present my Department is in the process of engaging consultants to carry out a strategic rail study. In the coming days a notice will appear in the Official Journal of the European Communities requesting interested parties to submit tenders to undertake such work.
The terms of reference of the study are on the following lines: prepare a strategic framework for future rail development in Ireland over the next 20 years having regard to the spatial planning context provided by the forthcoming national spatial strategy; the extensive public transport investment programme under the NDP; relevant findings and conclusions of Iarnród Éireann report entitled The Way Forward; the desirability of rail freight services; and take account of various land use and transportation strategies being developed by local authorities and other proposals for expanding rail infrastructure and services throughout the country; and the forthcoming report of the task force established by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources on transport and logistics in connection with ports.