Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of his plans to alleviate passenger congestion on the northern commuter rail line; if measures will be introduced in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15169/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Deputy is aware that it is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to develop public transport infrastructure and services in the Greater Dublin Area, including in relation to the Northern Line commuter line, and it is the NTA, in co-operation with Iarnród Éireann, who are developing plans as referred to by the Deputy.

The need for additional capacity on the Line arises from the increasing numbers of people choosing to travel by train, which is linked to the very welcome growth in the economy and employment generally.

As the Deputy knows, addressing capacity needs can only be successful through a combination of short, medium and longer term responses and it is precisely that type of approach the NTA is implementing.

In the short term, the NTA and Iarnród Éireann introduced 10-minute DART toward the end of last year and, in response to particular issues on the non-DART part of the Northern Line, also introduced additional morning services to deal with demand. In December, additional off-peak services, and some timetabling changes of other services were also introduced, all with the objective of providing additional capacity on the Line.

In the medium term, the challenge is to source additional rolling stock as efficiently and effectively as possible and ensuring value for money for the taxpayer in that regard.  The NTA and Iarnród Éireann are currently exploring two options -

1. The purchase or lease of second-hand fleet;

2. The purchase of additional carriages to augment the existing “ICR” commuter fleet.

The Deputy will be aware that the first option is complicated by the different gauge of the Irish rail network compared to international norms; however, the NTA has recently advertised seeking expressions of interest and is currently considering the responses it received, as well as the proposal to purchase additional carriages. I expect a decision on the medium term response to the capacity challenge will be made very shortly.

In the longer term, and as part of the DART Expansion programme generally, there is a need to significantly increase the size of the rail fleet.  Work on developing tender documentation and train specifications for the proposed bi-mode fleet of rail vehicles is progressing.  It is expected that the formal fleet acquisition tender process will be initiated in the coming months and that the fleet

manufacturing contract will be awarded either at the end of this year or the start of next year.