Previous Government decisions have resulted in considerable groundwork being made already on rail network development. To date, in excess of €1 billion has been spent on rail investment in recent years. The review provides a vision for the railway network which, in the coming decades, could elevate the train services and customer standards to world class levels. Among the benefits that will accrue from the implementation of the review are: hourly high-speed services to Cork and Belfast; two hourly services on other interurban routes; more reliable timetables; improved and accurate passenger information; higher levels of comfort for customers and major increases in capacity and frequency of commuter services in the greater Dublin area – a matter in which I have a particular interest –"turn up and go" peak period frequency on all four lines into Dublin city centre from Dundalk, Drogheda, Maynooth, Kildare and Arklow; the expansion of commuter services for Cork city; and major reform and restructuring of rail freight services.