Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

128. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the terms of reference of the Strategic Rail Review which is being commissioned in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland; the estimated timeframe for the completion of the review; the projects that will continue to be developed while this review is ongoing; the basis on which these were selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42269/21]

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

As the Deputy has stated my Department, in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure Northern Ireland, has commissioned an all-island Strategic Rail Review. I can inform the Deputy that the procurement process has been completed and Arup consultants will undertake the Review on my Department’s behalf. Preliminary work has recently commenced and the Review is scheduled to be completed within 12 months. The terms of reference were published on the Official Journal of the European Union as part of the procurement competition and I will separately supply the Deputy with those terms of reference as requested.

As the Deputy is aware, a revised National Development Plan is currently being finalised and that revised Plan will establish the funding parameters for investment for the coming decade and the outcomes for the rail network we will seek to achieve with that funding.

Obviously there are a range of projects already underway which will continue over the next 12 months such as –

- National Train Control Centre: construction will continue on the new National Train Control Centre

- Track relaying / ballast cleaning / signalling improvements etc.:work will continue across the network on these important aspects of protection and renewal as part of the Exchequer’s €1billion commitment to the protection and renewal programme which cumulatively increases service reliability and punctuality, improves journey times and ensures continued safety of the network; and

- New InterCity Railcars (ICRs):these 41 carriages are under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2022

Separately to the above, in each of the five metropolitan areas work will continue over the next 12 months in relation to progressing plans for their metropolitan area rail networks and / or rail termini. This work includes –

- Cork:work will commence on the EU funded programme to improve rail infrastructure in the Cork metropolitan area;

- DART+:it is expected that, subject to Government approval, a railway order will be lodged in relation to DART+ West and a contract concluded in relation to new fleet;

- Galway:planning and design is continuing in relation to the proposed redevelopment of Ceannt Station and Oranmore station, while next will see a review of the current Galway Transport Strategy;

- Limerick:plans for the development of the metropolitan area rail network are being considered as part of the metropolitan area transport strategy which will be finalised in the coming months; and

- Waterford:planning and design continues in relation to the previously announced relocation of Plunkett Station, while a metropolitan area transport strategy is under development.