Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Transport the maximum current capacity in terms of daily passenger throughput of each of the commuter rail stations in County Kildare; if he can identify the means whereby daily use can be increased with particular reference to parking facilities, increased frequency, extra carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9581/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The scheduling and timetabling of trains is a day-to-day operational matter for Iarnród Éireann to consider.

On the basis of projected demand, Iarnród Éireann has submitted a greater Dublin integrated rail network plan, which proposes the enhancement of all suburban and outer suburban services into Dublin. The proposals are being examined by my Department, at present, in the context of the ten-year investment framework for transport.

In the meantime, I understand from the company that some of the 36 new diesel railcars due to come into service at the end of this year will be allocated to the Kildare route to extend all trains to eight-car length. That will improve the capacity on individual trains by up to 33%. That capacity increase comes on top of a capacity increase of almost 160% delivered on that line in the last 18 months.

Regarding the Maynooth-Connolly line, I understand that, in the short term, Iarnród Éireann plans to replace the majority of the 36 diesel railcars on the Sligo-Maynooth- Dublin line to increase capacity and to remove older rolling stock from service. The effect will be to increase all commuter trains on the line to eight-car length, giving an immediate capacity increase, on some services, of 33%.