Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposals for a new Irish Rail translink high speed rail service from Belfast to Dublin with departures every hour and a 90 minute non-stop journey time; and the way in which this proposal will affect the 800 commuters from Dundalk and Drogheda who currently use the enterprise rail service. [25756/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The frequency of rail services on any particular route is an operational matter for Iarnród Eireann. I understand the company is looking at the case for increasing the frequency on the Enterprise services between Dublin and Belfast to an hourly service in the future. The introduction of a 90 minute high speed train service from Dublin to Belfast would require track upgrading and fleet replacement and there are no plans for this under the current investment programme.

Iarnród Éireann proposes to continue to develop and expand, where possible, both Commuter and Enterprise services for Drogheda and Dundalk commuters to meet the needs of the growing population and the resultant demand.