Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the delivery of a Waterford metropolitan rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42073/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, land transport investment in our five cities, including Waterford, is guided by the metropolitan area transport strategies which have been developed for each city. These multimodal strategies provide the necessary evidence-based and plan-led framework to guide transport investment in each city over the short, medium and longer term. This type of approach provides the type of long-term planning that is needed to ensure good transport infrastructure delivery and related integration with land-use planning in our cites.

The Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (WMATS) was published in December 2022. It was developed by the NTA in collaboration with Waterford City & County Council, Kilkenny County Council, the Southern Regional Assembly and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. WMATS aims to provide an accessible and integrated transport network to meet the travel demands and support the sustainable growth of the Waterford Metropolitan Area up to 2040.

Noting the NTA's role in the development of the WMATS, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please contact my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will take action to improve rail infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42066/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There has been significant investment in rail infrastructure over the lifetime of this Government. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 notes key rail projects such as the DART+ programme, the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme and the Foynes Rail Line Reinstatement project, on which we have made good progress and will continue to advance in the years ahead.

The DART+ programme comprises five related projects for the development of rail in the Greater Dublin Area. The expansion will create a connected and electrified rail network for the Greater Dublin Area, increasing the network from circa 50km to 150km and doubling city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours.

The Preliminary Business Case for the whole DART+ programme, was approved by Cabinet at Decision Gate 1 in December 2021. The Decision also permitted the purchase of additional DART fleet. The first order for the purchase of 95 additional DART carriages, which comprise 65 battery-electric and 30 electric carriages, are due to start arriving shortly for testing, prior to entry into service. The battery-electric carriages are expected to enter service on the northern line to Drogheda in early 2026. In November 2022, the Government approved a second purchase of fleet, which will see 90 new battery-electric carriages arrive around 2026.

A Railway Order application for DART+ West, which provides for an extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to M3 Parkway and Maynooth, was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in July 2022. A Railway Order was granted by An Bord Pleanála in July subject to certain conditions, notably that the proposed depot west of Maynooth not be constructed due to concerns about flood risk. Iarnród Éireann are currently exploring other options for the construction of a depot in collaboration with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to progress the project into the procurement process. Iarnród Éireann and the NTA are also considering responses to legal challenges to the projects planning decision.

A Railway Order application for DART+ South-West, which provides for an extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge, was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in March 2023.

A Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North, which provides for the extension of DART services from Dublin city centre to Drogheda, was lodged in July 2024.

The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State. The programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects. The Programme will be delivered on a phased basis. Phase 1 of the Programme will see circa €300m investment (€164m of EU funds) in Cork’s rail infrastructure, which will facilitate the longer-term electrification of the network through construction of a new ‘through’ platform at Kent Station to create an integrated suburban network, re-signalling of the network, and double tracking from Glounthaune to Midleton. All Phase 1 projects are on track for delivery by mid-2026.

The Foynes Line Reinstatement Project provides for rehabilitation works on 42km of the currently disused, Limerick to Foynes railway line, to safely reinstate the line for operational rail freight transport. The rehabilitation works will enable the return of freight services to the line, supporting up to 10 return freight services in a 12-hour period. Work on this project is well underway and it is anticipated the line will reopen to freight traffic in 2026.

There has also been significant investment in upgrading and building new train stations across the country. The construction contract for the upgrade of Ceannt Station in Galway was awarded in November 2023, with works currently on-going. Construction is anticipated to be completed by mid-2026.

Iarnród Éireann have also recently lodged a planning application for or new platform and second track through Oranmore Station, to increase train frequency. Construction on the project is expected to commence in Q4 2025 subject to planning permission and funding availability.

A non-statutory public consultation on the emerging preferred option for a new rail station at Moyross, Limerick concluded in June. Iarnród Éireann are currently advancing the preliminary design and expect to produce a Preliminary Business Case for the project shortly. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in Quarter 4 2025, subject to planning permission and funding availability.

Works are also progressing on Colbert station in Limerick and the relocation of Plunket station in Waterford, as part of the North Quays Redevelopment works in the city.

As the Deputy may also be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC), also provides the exchequer funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure. Over the five-year IMMAC programme from 2020-2024 in excess of €1.3 billion in exchequer funding will have been made available to support delivery of protection and renewal works. This funding also helps to increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services. In December 2023, track and infrastructure upgrades carried out under IMMAC, facilitated an improvement in journey times on the Dublin – Cork route, including what is believed to be the fastest ever timetabled service between the two cities at 2hrs and 14 minutes.

In order to lay out a strategic vision for the future of the rail sector, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Review will inform the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net carbon zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Final Review Report, which was published in July this year makes 32 recommendations including

• Additional capacity, including upgrading much of the single-track rail network to double-track, with four-track in some areas;
• Providing new 200kmh intercity trains, which will support a significant reduction in rail journey times between cities;
• A net carbon zero rail system, primarily through the overhead electrification of intercity routes and new electric trains;
• The interventions will also provide for higher frequencies with a train services at least hourly between cities and at least every two hours on regional/rural routes.