Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I engaged with a constituent who has sent me this letter. It is simple and as a train user, I am going to read it. It states:

The current service provided by IrishRail is subpar, with significant limitations in frequency and speed. With only four return services per day, Wexford suffers from one of the least frequent intercity services in the country.

Despite this, there has been minimal improvement over the past decade. It remains unclear if any of the new rail carriages will be allocated to this line. The recent timetable consultation proposed no additional services on the route, highlighting the ongoing neglect of this line by Irish Rail and the NTA.

On weekdays, there is an astonishing 5-hour 35-minute gap between the 07:45 service and the 13:20 services and the first train into Wexford doesn't arrive until ... noon! The minimum service frequency should be at least two hours per day in each direction.

It is disappointing that the Strategic Rail Review proposed no infrastructure improvements for the line. The only recommendation is to shuttle passengers by train to Wicklow or Greystones for a transfer to the DART. Given that a significant 84% of trips on the line occur between Dublin and intermediate stations, it is vital to ensure that this implementation does not result in extended journey times.

I think the Minister knows that speed is of the essence when it comes to public transport. If it is not faster, it will not be used.

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