Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Murphy for her kind words. I am eager to see improved rail services rolled out across the network. We know that when people are provided with higher frequencies and reliable timetables, they will make the switch to public transport. We all know there are a number of constraints on the Dublin to Wexford line. The all-island strategic rail review highlighted issues such as its single-track character; poor rail alignment; significant conflicts with high-frequency DART services; and significant geographical constraints limiting potential diversions. However, the review sought to consider what opportunities might exist to improve services along the line. In that consideration, the review examined interventions such as adding passing loops, tunnelling through Bray Head, developing a new railway along the M11 corridor, and building a new line for DART services along the N11 corridor.

The review concluded that many of these interventions would be very costly and unlikely to be justified given that the region could not be expected to support more than one or two trains per hour in each direction. The review suggested that improvements could be achieved in the shorter term through improved connectivity with DART services and then, in the longer term, through the ultimate reinstatement of the Wexford to Waterford line and improvements to the Waterford to Dublin line.

Improved connectivity to DART services is being considered as part of the recently commenced Wicklow capacity study. This study will also consider the use of the new DART+ battery-electric vehicles for Wicklow services, subject to the necessary infrastructure. Battery-electric operation would allow the DART+ battery-electric fleet to continue further south along the unelectrified line and terminate at Wicklow town. I stress, however, that no decision has been made to alter any existing services on the Rosslare line and obviously any proposals that might emerge from the Wicklow capacity study will of course be subject to public consultation.

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