Written answers

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Rail Network

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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583. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on proposals to replace the Irish rail gauge of 1,600 mm to the international standard gauge of 1,435 mm when electrification and line replacements are undertaken in the medium to long term, in order to lower the costs for train cars, facilitate international integration with the rail system of the United Kingdom in the event of an undersea tunnel being constructed in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45309/14]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I have no plans to replace the Irish rail gauge with the international standard gauge and I am not aware of any such plans by the Authorities in Northern Ireland either. As the Deputy will be aware the rail gauge on the island of Ireland is different to that in mainland United Kingdom.  

While I am aware that the idea of an undersea tunnel linking Ireland and mainland UK has been suggested from time to time, there are no such plans under consideration by the Government. In addition, given the likely costs involved, and other priorities in the transport area for limited funding it is difficult to envisage such a tunnel being developed with Exchequer funds in the foreseeable future.

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