Wexford to Dublin rail overcrowding
Brian Brennan described overcrowding and insufficient seating on the Wexford-Dublin rail line and called for action for growing commuter towns. The Taoiseach said he would raise the specific service with the Minister and noted the national rail review and major capital funding.
I need to discuss the rail service between Wexford and Dublin that serves huge population growth areas such as Gorey, Arklow and Rathdrum. On a daily basis, my offices in Gorey and Arklow are contacted by commuters who are deeply frustrated and inconvenienced by the current service. The Wexford to Dublin train now only offers 185 seated tickets. By the time the train picks up commuters in Arklow or Rathdrum, it is filled to capacity with people standing for the entire journey and reports of overcrowding. To put it simply, two trains leave Gorey that will arrive in Dublin before 9 a.m. That is compared with five trains from Dundalk and seven from Portlaoise. It is not a fair reflection at all on the people of Wicklow and Wexford. The all-island strategy published in July last year recommended improvements on this line but it is simply not happening based on the most recent report that came out in December. More than 300,000 people live on this line. This issue is not going away and it needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, which I have no doubt is urgent and of concern. The Deputy will be aware that many rail projects are covered by the national rail review. Unprecedented capital funding has been allocated to rail projects over the next five years. I will talk to the Minister about the specific project the Deputy raised.