[article] Cullen set to approve new tracks and stations on Kildare rail route

[Navan Junction]

Cullen set to approve new tracks and stations on Kildare rail route
Tim O'Brien, Irish Times
01/05/2006

Iarnród Éireann's plan to spend €357 million on new railway stations and tracks on its Kildare route is expected to be approved by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen after he receives the public inquiry report into the project this month.


The company is planning to double its tracks from two to four between Cherry Orchard and Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, in a move which would increase peak capacity from 600 passengers per hour to 4,800.

However, the work, which involves the demolition and replacement of three bridges, will see extensive road closures for periods of up to six months. It will also involve minor speed restrictions and some reductions in the timetable during the three-year construction period.

The new tracks will allow Iarnród Éireann to separate its intercity trains from its suburban service, while stations at Clondalkin and Cherry Orchard will be relocated to Fonthill Road and Park West respectively.

New stations at Kishoge and Adamstown are also proposed alongside the upgrading of the station at Hazelhatch.

The Kildare route is Iarnród Éireann's busiest intercity route, carrying services between the capital and places as diverse as Waterford and Mayo.

Recent population growth in west Dublin, Kildare and Laois has seen demand for commuter services far outstrip what can be provided by the two existing lines.

When the four lines are in place the current level of one inner-suburban service from Hazelhatch to Dublin per hour will be increased to four per hour.

The outer suburban service beyond Hazelhatch is to be increased from three services per hour to four services per hour.

Improvements to the inter-city services to Waterford, Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Galway, Westport and Ballina will increase from three to four services per hour.

The track configuration is designed to accommodate the faster inter-city services on the outside tracks, with the suburban services using the middle lines.

Funding for the €357 million project is to be eased by the donation of land from local authorities and property developers whose schemes could be expected to benefit from the service. It will also be helped by developers directly funding station enhancements and car parks. The balance is to be funded by the Department of Transport.

Department sources told The Irish Times that the report of the public inquiry was "due", and that Mr Cullen was anxious to move ahead with the project as soon as possible. If he approves the scheme construction is expected to start in the autumn and be complete by January 2010.

© The Irish Times