Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, a number of significant improvements are planned across Ireland's rail network over the coming years, including on the Dublin to Rosslare line. Last year, some changes to timetables on the line were introduced, including a new late evening service between Wexford and Gorey. I look forward to similar such timetable improvements bring introduced in the coming years. My Department is also working to pursue the recommendations in the all-island strategic rail review, including an increase in services between Wexford and Rosslare to at least one train every two hours by 2030.

As part of the DART+ programme, specifically the DART+ coastal south project, it is planned to increase service frequency between the Bray and Greystones portion of the Rosslare line from approximately every 30 minutes in each direction to every 20 minutes. Work is ongoing by larnród Eireann and the NTA to investigate the best way to achieve this frequency improvement, including any infrastructure needs, and it is currently anticipated that it can be delivered by around 2028. Furthermore, the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, adopted in 2023, included a recommendation to extend the DART service to Wicklow town. I understand this extension can be facilitated through utilising the new battery-electric DART carriages which are currently arriving in Ireland and undergoing testing.

The new battery-electric DART carriages will first be deployed from Dublin to Drogheda next year. As more carriages arrive, it may be feasible to also deploy them to extend DART services to and from Wicklow, subject to funding and approvals for the required charging infrastructure. The NTA is examining this issue with a view to progressing the extension around 2029. This could increase service frequency along that portion of the Rosslare to Dublin line from circa six trains a day each way to up to one train every hour.

Overall, these plans offer the potential for a much higher level of train service on the Dublin to Rosslare line, which I look forward to progressing.

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