Rail Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2007

Wednesday, 7 February 2007

Ceisteanna (220, 221)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

302 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport when it is proposed that the first rail services to the Docklands station will commence; the arrangements being made to provide for link services to Connolly Station, Dublin city centre, and the south business district; if his attention has been drawn to the long distances between the new station and Connolly, the Luas link and crossing by foot to the south city business district, to which 60% of commuters using the Clonsilla line wish to go; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4420/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the new station at Docklands will open on 12 March 2007 and that services will commence to the station on that day. I am also advised by Iarnród Éireann that a bus shuttle service between the city centre, Connolly station, and the new Docklands station will be operated by Dublin Bus and integrated with Iarnród Éireann's services pending construction of the LUAS extension to Docklands.

The station will be conveniently accessed from the LUAS stop on the proposed LUAS extension from Connolly Station. I understand that the distance from the new station to the LUAS stop will be approximately 350 metres, a similar distance to that between Connolly DART platforms and Connolly LUAS stop. The station will be approximately 800 metres from the new pedestrian footbridge across the Liffey, and approximately 400 metres from the proposed new Macken Street road bridge.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

303 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to provide Iarnród Éireann with double decker trains as are available in many European countries, particularly with a view to increasing service capacity on the Clonsilla railway line where the trains are crowded and the service is inadequate for the size of the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4421/07]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Decisions in relation to the specification of rolling stock are matters for Iarnród Éireann.