Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Rail Network

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

441. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for investment in rail projects as outlined in the Programme for Government including projected timelines and associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20531/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think there has been good progress made in relation to the rail investment proposals made under the Programme for Government as agreed in June 2020.

First and foremost, and as committed in the Programme for Government, Government has protected existing services by continuing to ensure that the level of payment required to operate the Public Service Obligation fleet is adequate to maintain and improve service capacity and frequency. This funding has ensured continued access to public transport for essential workers across the country throughout the COVID-19 health emergency.

In relation to rail in our regional cities, there has also been substantial progress with a feasibility study underway in Galway in relation to proposed improvements along the Athenry to Galway corridor and investment announced under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) to support infrastructure works at Oranmore station and improvement of Ceannt Station. URDF funding has also been announced to support the movement of Waterford’s Plunkett Station to the North Quays. In Limerick, options are being considered for the enhancement of rail services in the city region as part of the development of its metropolitan area transport strategy, while in Cork plans are being advanced to implement the rail-based elements of its metropolitan area transport strategy.

The protection and renewal of our rail infrastructure is of paramount importance and last year a new €1billion, 5-year investment programme was agreed, which I was delighted to be able to supplement further in both last year’s July Stimulus and this year’s Budget with additional funding provided toward the Dublin-Cork track enhancement project which will deliver an improved passenger experience along that hugely important line.

In December, the Government noted the conclusions of the report on the proposed re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor Phases 2 and 3 and my intention to commence a strategic review of the inter-urban / inter-regional rail network generally. This review will be conducted on an all-island basis in co-operation with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive, and in recent weeks Minister Nichola Mallon MLA and I jointly launched the procurement process in relation to it, with work on the review itself expected to commence in the summer.

Of course, planning and design has continued on the development of DART+, the largest ever investment in our rail infrastructure and services, and in a few months I will bring a memorandum to Government seeking approval for that programme to move forward to the next Decision Gate under the Public Spending Code, which will be a hugely significant step forward. In addition, construction commenced last summer on the National Train Control Centre which will benefit rail service delivery right across the country. Progress has continued throughout the last year on building the 41 additional carriages which will add capacity to the network once they enter into service in 2022. I also expect the City Centre Resignalling Project to conclude in Dublin later this year.

Finally, I was delighted to be able to announce additional funding in Budget 2021 toward the ‘Big Lift’ programme which is upgrading stations across the network to help people with mobility difficulties to more easily access rail services, an issue which featured specifically in the Programme for Government.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.