Electrification
The planned electrification of the railway line and fleet on the Dublin to Drogheda routes is to be welcomed and will go a significant way in laying the groundwork for the future development and extension of light-rail networks on the Northern commuter route and reduction in CO2 emissions. The full electrification of the Dublin Belfast line is an objective of the National Planning Framework. This would allow for more responsive services which could facilitate the opening of additional stations in Louth such as Dundalk South, Dunleer and Drogheda North, which are referenced in the Louth Development Plan 2021-2027.
MetroLink
The Metrolink has been in the policy and consultation stages for years and its completion should be one of the top priorities under the Draft Strategy. Fingal, East Meath and Louth are the fastest growing regions in Ireland, which is putting enormous strain on the public transport network and M1 motorway, especially during peak times. Most EU airports are served by rail networks and Ireland has lagged behind in this respect. All forecasts suggest that Dublin Airport footfall is set to further increase over the next decade.
Bicycles on Public Transport
It is very welcome news that all newly purchased Iarnród Éireann carriages will be able to accommodate bicycles at all times during the day but four bicycles per train is too few and should be increased according to seasonal demands especially on routes serving the Wild Atlantic Way.
Bicycle theft continues to pose huge problems in the Greater Dublin Area and passengers should feel safe in the knowledge that their bicycle is secure during travel. The online ticketing system for Inter-City services should have seats locked off for bicycle passengers that are either near or in view of the bicycle storage area if possible.
Anti-Social Behaviour on Public Transport
The Draft Strategy does not make enough reference to the recent increase in anti-social behaviour on light and heavy rail in the Greater Dublin area nor does it propose any measures that will be taken to combat same. The verbal and physical abuse suffered by passengers can be a significant deterrent to commuters from using the service. This needs to be addressed and requires a strategic approach and detailed action plan to ensure the public continue to have confidence and feel secure in using the service.
3 Day Tax Savers Tickets for Commuters
The terms and conditions of the annual and monthly tax-saver tickets for commuters using public transport should be updated to better reflect the emerging hybrid model of working life in Ireland. A flexible tax savers commuter ticket would better accommodate employees who might only be travelling into the office two or three days a week. This will work out at better value for commuters. It will encourage the use of public transport and may even encourage more employees to adopt a hybrid remote working lifestyle.
Short Hop Zone & Leap Cards
The extension of the Short Hop Zone and Leap Card facilities to Drogheda would be highly beneficial to commuters. An Adult Day Return rail ticket from Dublin Connolly to Drogheda costs €24.35 for a paper ticket. Whereas one can purchase the same ticket on a Leap card with Matthews Coaches for €15. If tickets were paperless and cheaper, there would be more commuters using rail travel.
North Drogheda/Dunleer railway station
Not only is Drogheda train station catering for the population of the town itself which stood at 40,956 in the 2016 census (the largest town in Ireland). It also caters for a massive surrounding hinterland which stretches as far south as Julianstown and as far north as Clogherhead. The positioning of Drogheda train station on the south side of the town across the river makes it very difficult for northern commuters to reach during peak times as they have to go through Drogheda town traffic. A Drogheda North station would serve the thousands of commuters in mid-Louth, would hugely alleviate town traffic and make rail a realistic option for a large number of commuters .
Dunleer station offers huge potential for an improved rail service for the Mid- and South-Louth areas amd would link to main road network towards Monaghan. Louth County Council has committed to examining the feasibility of re-opening the train station in Dunleer under the Louth Development Plan 2021-2027.
Dublin to Belfast high speed line (Chapter 12)
A high-speed line between Dublin and Belfast with only one stop in Dundalk would be of huge advantage to commuters as it would free up capacity on the existing line to allow for enhanced electric commuter train services during peak-times for services south of Dundalk. If one could travel from Dublin to Belfast in one hour it would help establish strong economic and social links between both cities and would provide a platform of connectivity, which is more important now than ever in the post-Brexit climate. A stop at Dundalk would ensure the M1 economic corridor would also be strategically linked to both cities.
Navan Rail Line
The Navan Rail line which is proposed in the later 2031-2042 phase of the plan should be prioritised. Navan is the third largest town in Ireland with a projected population in excess of 50,000 people by the end of this decade. The project which was included as an objective of the National Planning Framework would ensure much needed connectivity between Navan and towns such as Dunshaughlin to Dublin, removing significant numbers of cars and their environmental emissions from the roads.
Battery-Operated Carriages to Kildare town and Enfield
While the deployment of battery operated carriages on the DART and Northern Commuter Route is a very welcome step, the provision of similar capacity to Kildare on the Limerick line and to Enfield on the Sligo line would provide much needed capacity and frequency on these key rail arteries of the greater Dublin area. A large percentage of the Kildare workforce commute to and from Dublin on a daily basis and the line is used by hundreds of students commuting to and from Maynooth University, therefore this route should also be prioritised.
Getting people out of their car! (Chapter 12)
In general investing in rail gets people out of their car, provides greater connectivity, a better quality of life and makes for a more sustainable environment.