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

As committed to in the Government's current national development plan, the reinstatement of the western rail corridor is being considered as part of the all-island strategic rail review. The review is unique as it has considered the future of rail on the island of Ireland across both jurisdictions and was conducted in co-operation with our colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The review will inform the development of rail in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net-zero carbon targets in both jurisdictions. Work on the review is now at an advanced stage, and a draft report was published for a strategic environmental assessment public consultation in July of last year.

The draft report makes 30 recommendations for the rail system across the island out to 2050. Implementation of these recommendations would result in substantial improvements in the capacity, speed, frequency and reach of the rail system. Journey times by rail would be much reduced and frequency would increase to at least hourly between cities and every two hours on rural and regional routes. The network would be decarbonised, with intercity routes electrified.

As part of the review's recommendations, there would be the rehabilitation of currently disused lines, including on the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, as well as new lines to the north midlands and north west, widening accessibility and connectivity through rail. All this would at least double the market share of rail and enable it to be a stronger backbone of a sustainable public transport system for the people of Ireland.

The public consultation phase concluded on 29 September 2023 and submissions have been reviewed. It is expected that the final review report, taking account of the comments received, will be submitted to Governments in both jurisdictions this month and that the final report will be published by the end of the summer. I look forward to the report's publication.

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