Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:81 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her plans to improve the frequency of commuter rail services serving Sallins and Hazelhatch in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10856/02]
Vol. 551 No. 4
81 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her plans to improve the frequency of commuter rail services serving Sallins and Hazelhatch in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10856/02]
Iarnród Éireann accepts that following many years of under-investment in the rail network, demand exceeds capacity on the Kildare to Dublin route for commuters. The national development plan provides for the upgrading of the Kildare to Dublin suburban line by quadrupling the rail track between Hazelhatch and Sallins to separate long distance and commuter services on the Kildare line and developing Heuston Station for mainline and suburban services.
82 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans for the improvement of commuter services on the Kilcock to Dublin rail link; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10857/02]
83 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that the commuter rail link serving the towns of Enfield, Kilcock, Maynooth and Leixlip is adequate to meet requirements in terms of a major shift of passengers from road to rail; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10858/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.
The Maynooth line was commissioned as a double track line in early 2000. A total of 20 diesel rail cars were delivered to Iarnród Éireann in 2000 for use on the upgraded Maynooth line. These new rail cars and associated track work have increased the capacity of the Maynooth line by over 100% at peak times. Investment on the doubling of the track on the line and the provision of 20 additional diesel rail cars amounted to approximately €55 million.
The next major project to impact on the capacity of the route is the upgrading of Connolly Station. This project, currently at the design and planning stage, sets out to increase the capacity of the line between Connolly and Pearse stations, thereby allowing extra trains, including trains serving the Maynooth line, operate through the city centre.