Mr. Hugh Creegan:

Senator Higgins asked if we had considered lowering parts of the platform to improve the rail to carriage connection. That would actually involve raising part of the platform. Our colleagues in Irish Rail considered this. The issue is that the fleet operating on most of the lines are all of different floor heights. It is a legacy issue caused by the fact some of the fleet dates back to 30 plus years. Unfortunately, we could not find a singular height which would mean there could be level boarding by ballooning part of the platform to a particular height.

As we roll out a new DART fleet, we will try to standardise the fleet on the Dublin network. It may then be possible to rationalise the fleet on other lines so that they are all of a singular type. That would then allow us to consider the possibility of raising platforms, in particular at front carriages or something like that, which would allow for much easier boarding. Right now, unfortunately, the difference in height between the different fleet types means that it does not help.

The Senator asked about seating at bus stops.

We hope that is not something we will do much of but it is easier to do. We will take that away and see if can we provide it more easily and in many more places. I said earlier that there are visual and line of sight impacts with shelters that do not necessarily occur with seating so it should be easier to provide more of it. We will take away that point.