Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Meade talked about the learning experience gathered from this process in recent weeks. There are a number of key questions to be asked about infrastructure but I will focus on the passenger perspective for the first part of my questioning. There is or perceived to be an infrastructural deficit at some rail stations, for instance, as regards shelter when large numbers of passengers get off a train at a station where another service commences, such as Malahide and Grand Canal Dock. I am sure there are other stations that other members from other counties could mention, including on the Kildare line. It is lovely to do this in August and September but when the weather turns it is not so great. With regard to the capacity of those stations, Senator Clifford-Lee referred to delays caused by the volume of people trying to get on and off trains and the problem associated with that, not to mention the safety aspect. I ask Mr. Meade to address that.

An obvious issue is how to facilitate DART+ Coastal North and the electrification of the entire network, which is the ultimate aim, without fast-tracking the design, planning and implementation of three- and four-tracking at relevant locations across the network, most specifically on the northern commuter line? I appreciate that the Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin is a very important offering from the perspective of Iarnród Éireann, the Government, the Oireachtas and interconnectivity. I think I read a report, or anecdotally it was said to me, that Dublin and Belfast are some of the least well served capital cities in Europe. That cannot be a good thing. I ask Mr. Meade to comment.