John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Transport if differences (details supplied) exist between the old trains on the Sligo to Dublin rail network and the new trains which his Department is introducing; if the new trains will provide adequate comfort and services for passengers on the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26331/05]

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

However, I understand that Iarnród Éireann plans to replace the existing locomotive hauled trains on the Sligo-Dublin services with new units from its fleet of class 29000 railcars. The 36 diesel units, in nine sets of four carriages, are being commissioned at present and will be introduced into service before the end of this year.

The deployment of these units on the Sligo-Dublin route will deliver significant improvements for customers in frequency and reliability and is part of a national strategy to provide an enhanced timetable for intercity customers across the network.

A central element of the plan for the Sligo-Dublin route involves an increase in the number of daily services from three to five, representing the most significant frequency improvement on the route in decades.