Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent by which it is expected to increase the use of the commuter rail services throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30396/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of turnback facilities at Newbridge, the extension of platforms at Sallins and Hazelhatch and the introduction of new rolling stock on the Kildare route as part of the increased investment in Public Transport under the NDP have increased capacity on the Kildare route by 160%.

The second rail line servicing county Kildare, the Maynooth line, also saw record growth through the 1990s and this decade, and capacity there has been more than trebled in the last five years. The doubling of the track between Maynooth and Clonsilla, resignalling the line and upgrading stations and crossings has trebled capacity on the Maynooth line.

The following projects being funded under Transport 21 will further improve rail services in the Kildare area

The Docklands station, to open next year, will facilitate extra services on the Maynooth line.

The introduction of a fleet of modern intercity railcars to be delivered in the period 2007 to 2009 will release commuter railcars currently being used on intercity routes such as Sligo-Dublin and Rosslare-Dublin for use, inter alia, on the Maynooth line.

The Kildare Route Project, which involves four tracking a section of track from Cherry Orchard to Hazlehatch, will enable the separation of long distance and commuter services thus reducing travel times and offering operational flexibility to increase the amount of services provided. As part of that project, upgraded stations and increased parking capacity are to be provided.