HALF hourly trains from Dublin to Limerick and Cork won’t be introduced until after 2030 at the earliest.
That’s according to newly appointed Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Mary Considine, former CEO of The Shannon Airport Group.
This comes following a parliamentary question submitted by Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan, who asked the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, whether he had engaged with the operator to introduce the service during peak times.
The Minister replied that this is an operational matter for Iarnód Éireann.
In a letter, seen by the Limerick Post, Ms Considine said there is “currently an hourly train service between Cork and Heuston Station, Dublin”.
“The service is very busy across all time periods, especially during weekdays as commuters avail of competitive and reliable journey times to connect with work and other destinations.
“The All-Island Strategic Rail Review (A-ISRR) recommended increasing service frequencies across the network along with other significant enhancements to include reducing journey times and decarbonisation through electrification and renewable energy use”, Ms Considine said.
She added: “A Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, launched by the Department of Transport in December last, plans for the implementation of priority A-ISRR recommendations to include increased service frequencies across Intercity routes.”
The intention is to increase service frequencies between Cork and Dublin to a half-hourly pattern, however “additional train sets are required to introduce this service”.
“Given the funding required, competing priorities, timelines for procurement and fleet delivery, it is likely to be post 2030 when such extra services can be provided”.