"Delivery of these 67 new carriages commences the final phase of the overhaul of the Irish rail fleet", Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen has said.
The Minister was speaking today (28th July, 2005) in Dublin Port where he, joined by CIE Chairman, Dr. John Lynch, took delivery of 67 new carriages, which will be up and running on the Dublin to Cork line from this Winter.
The 67 carriages, costing €117m, are the first of a series of new rail carriages which will hit the tracks in Ireland over the next three years. In addition to these 67 carriages, a further €343m will see an additional 156 state of the art carriages delivered (see below). "We are moving from oldest to newest rail fleet in Europe in three years", the Minister said.
Speaking in Dublin Port, Minister Cullen commented: "My job and the job of Government is to deliver. 67 new carriages, operating from this Winter, represents visible delivery and demonstrates where our work has been focused. When we get the fully renewed Intercity fleet in place by 2008, we will have the most modern rail fleet in Europe.
"Many people, myself included, remember taking journeys on old, damp, unreliable trains. Decades of under investment in rail services are being corrected and we are seeing results. The Government is determined to fully exploit the potential of our rail resource. If we can continue to make the train a real option for people, we can reduce traffic gridlock", he concluded.
The rail service envisaged in 2008 when all new trains are delivered will be:
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ROUTE
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FREQUENCY
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Dublin Cork
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Hourly all day
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Dublin Limerick
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Hourly mix of direct and shuttle services from Cork service
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Dublin Galway
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Hourly peak, every two hours off-peak
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Dublin Waterford
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Every two hours all day
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Dublin Sligo
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Every two hours all day
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Dublin Westport
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Existing through services PLUS additional shuttle services Athlone-Westport, connect to Galway service
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Dublin Tralee
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Existing through services PLUS shuttle service every two hours Mallow-Tralee connecting with Cork service
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Dublin-Rosslare
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Existing service + extra commuter services (Gorey / Arklow)
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Branch lines
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Additional services
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ENDS
Further info:
Dan Pender 01 6041090 / 087 2313415
Note for Editors
What has been done?
The Government has invested over €650 million in past six years to transform the Intercity network. Details of this investment are:
Over 420 miles of track renewed, upgraded from jointed track on timber sleepers to modern and safer continuous welded rail on concrete sleepers
Signalling has been upgraded to computerised signalling on the Galway, Waterford, and Tralee lines, with Sligo to be completed this year, and Westport and Rosslare planned. By 2008, every line on the core radial network will have computerised signalling
Heuston terminus has been resignalled along with additional platforms to allow for service expansion
Over 700 level crossings have been upgraded or closed
Over 220 miles of fencing have been upgraded or installed
Major investment in bridge renewals, embankments and train radio safety communication systems
Major work completed on coastal defence along exposed eastern coast
What next?
2005 2006:
67 new carriages at €117 million for Cork-Dublin; first train in service by this Winter; all in service by Autumn 2006 to then deliver an hourly service each way on Cork-Dublin
36 new carriages at €80 million; in service from the end of this year; will directly benefit Drogheda, Maynooth and Sligo lines which service Kildare, Naas, Maynooth, Leixlip, Castleknock, Drogheda, Balbriggan and Skerries. 5,000 passengers per day currently using this service
2007 2008:
120 new Intercity carriages at €262 million; to operate on Dublin-Westport; Dublin-Galway; Dublin-Limerick; Dublin-Tralee; Dublin-Waterford lines
