Delivering for Kildare

Date: 10 July 2008

TRANSPORT 21 – DELIVERING FOR KILDARE

· Major rail service improvements on the Kildare Route covering Hazelhatch, Sallins, Newbridge and Kildare
· Passenger numbers will increase from 11,050 per day each way to 36,400 per day each way
· Upgrade of N7 bringing significant benefit to Kildare and Monasterevin

Thursday, July 10th

Transport 21, the largest investment package ever in Ireland’s transport infrastructure, has already delivered real benefits for Kildare and many more significant improvements are on the way. Since it was launched two years ago, Transport 21 has invested €4.7 billion in transport networks across Ireland, with almost €3 billion being invested in 2008.

Commenting on the ongoing investment in Kildare’s transport infrastructure, Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport, today said:

“Residents and commuters in County Kildare are well used to the difficulties that come from being within the commuter-belt to the capital. Both roads and public transport options have been under severe pressure within the county, and for this reason Transport 21 is making significant investment in improving the transport links in Kildare and throughout the Greater Dublin Area.

“Transport 21 is delivering more buses this year, and an exciting rail development is due to be completed in 2010. This development – the Kildare Route Project – will grow passenger numbers using the rail route through Kildare to Dublin from 11,050 per day to 36,400 per day each way.

“Under Transport 21, €34 billion is being invested in Ireland’s road, rail, bus, tram, metro and regional air services between 2006 and 2015. Transport 21 is transforming the quality of life of families and commuters, linking communities together, and making it easier to do business in Kildare, and right across Ireland.”

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Note to Editors:

Bus Éireann
Transport 21 funding has allowed Bus Éireann to order 239 new vehicles, including 69 additional vehicles: single deck city buses, single deck commuter coaches, and double deck commuter coaches, all wheelchair accessible. Delivery of these new vehicles began in 2007 when 117 buses were delivered. This year, the remaining 122 will be delivered.

Iarnród Éireann
The major Transport 21 rail improvement for Kildare is the Kildare Route Project. This will deliver improved transport services to commuters in Kildare, Carlow and Laois. The construction phase of the Kildare Route project commenced in June 2007 and is due to be completed by early 2010.
The Kildare Route Project is designed to increase the frequency of commuter and other services along the key Kildare to Heuston (Dublin) rail corridor, to allow thousands more commuters every day use rail services. This will be achieved through increasing the number of tracks from two to four along sections of the route, providing two dedicated lines for commuter services and two dedicated lines for Intercity and regional services.

Improvements include doubling service frequency from Hazelhatch, Sallins, Newbridge and Kildare to Heuston, and significantly increasing the frequency of services between the outer commuter towns of Carlow and Portlaoise and Dublin. Under these plans, passenger numbers will increase from 11,050 per day each way to 36,400 per day each way.

Other major works covered by the project include the replacement or alteration of a number of road overbridges to facilitate the four-tracking of the line, the construction of new and relocated stations, the enhancement of existing stations, and associated signalling works. Work on the Kildare Route Project commenced in mid 2007, after enabling works took place. These included activities such as relocation of utility services, erection of temporary fencing, establishing site compounds and access routes, track realignment works, site preparation and consultation with stakeholders.

This high capacity and high frequency service will bring significant benefits to Kildare residents and commuters. This major increase in services will also reduce the number of car users, cutting down on emissions and relieving traffic congestion.

Roads
Transport 21 has already funded significant works on the M7/N7 Dublin/Limerick route. This is one of the major inter urban routes which, by 2010, will overhaul the road network linking Dublin with Limerick, Cork, Galway and Waterford.

The major work being undertaken on these routes is breathing new life into towns and villages across Kildare, and Ireland as a whole. Towns like Kildare and Monastrevin have benefitted significantly from the upgrading of the N7, leading to an enhanced quality of life for residents and commuters, for families and communities.

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