Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposed or revised targets in regard to further expansion and improvement of provincial and intercity rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17795/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for further expansion and improvement of commuter rail services; when he expects such targets to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17796/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

The sustained high levels of capital investment in the railway network since 1997 — totalling over €2 billion in the period 1997-2007, has facilitated a substantial expansion in services across InterCity and Commuter railway services. Capacity, for example, on the Kildare and Maynooth lines has increased by 125% and 250% respectively since 2000. The introduction of new rolling stock on the Cork-Dublin line has enabled the introduction of an hourly service each way. These service improvements along with others across the network are reflected in the growth in passenger numbers which Iarnród Éireann has achieved of 33% in the last 3 years alone. The deployment of the 183 new InterCity railcars throughout 2008 and into 2009, and the completion of the Kildare line upgrade project, the Cork-Midleton line and the Western Rail Corridor will all facilitate a further substantial increase in InterCity and Commuter services. In the short to medium term, the completion of the City Centre Re-signalling and the Inter-connector/Electrification projects in the Dublin area will transform commuter services in the Dublin area.