Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
212. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport when a formal decision will be made on the deployment of battery-operated carriages to service Wicklow town; the infrastructural changes that would be required on the line to enable the usage of those carriages; the earliest date by which battery-operated carriages would be operational on the Wicklow town line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the use of battery-operated train carriages to improve the train service to Arklow town; the infrastructure that would need to be put in place to enable that to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4301/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 222 together.
As the deputy may be aware, the DART+ programme intends to triple the amount of electrified track in the Greater Dublin Area from 50km to 150km, resulting in a lower carbon and higher capacity system, with electrified passenger services running to Maynooth, Hazelhatch, Drogheda, and Greystones.
Last November the Government approved the purchase of 90 battery-electric carriages. I anticipate that these 90 carriages will be delivered in 2026. The precise deployment of these carriages has yet to be determined, but they will support the expansion of DART services to Drogheda to the north, Maynooth/M3 Parkway to the west and Celbridge/Hazelhatch to the south-west.
As these 90 carriages have the flexibility operate on both electrified and non-electrified track through the use of batteries, there is also potential to use them at some stage in the future between Greystones and Wicklow, subject to available funding for necessary supporting infrastructure.
The Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy envisions potential future extensions to the DART network, including to Wicklow, after the DART+ programme has been delivered. These would be standalone projects subject to future consideration.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including DART+. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
