Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 368: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which it is intended to improve or increase the number of scheduled commuter rail services from Sallins, Hazelhatch, Confey, Leixlip, Maynooth and Kilcock, County Kildare morning and evening, with a view to providing greater and accessible choice for commuters with the objective of alleviating road traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The position in regard to the improvement of railway services on the Maynooth line is that capacity has been trebled in the last five years. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it is currently reviewing its plans for resignalling in the city centre area as part of its broader plans for the upgrade of railway infrastructure in the Dublin area and that in this context is considering the removal of level crossings and resignalling of the Maynooth line as a means of substantially increasing capacity on the line.

With regard to the Kildare line capacity has increased by 160% on this line in recent years, along with platform extensions allowing for longer trains, introduction of Sunday services and the turnback facility at Newbridge that provides for Newbridge specific trains to operate. Furthermore, the Kildare Route project will see four-tracking between Cherry Orchard and Hazelhatch that will allow intercity trains to bypass the commuter services serving the outer Dublin area leading to more efficient use of the rail network. The Interconnector and the associated electrification project will also provide a significant increase in capacity and service on both the Kildare and Maynooth lines.