Railway Developments in the BMW Region

1. Railway Developments in the BMW Region By Tom Finn Manager, Strategic Planning, Iarnród Éireann

2. Presentation Content • Iarnród Éireann in context • Background to current investemnt • Progress on current NDP projects • BMW projects • National Railway Development Plans • BMW Railway Plans • Strategic Rail Review • Western Rail Corridor

4. Larne Harb Derry Bangor Belfast Sligo Ballina Newry Dundalk Westport Manulla J. Claremorris Mullingar Maynooth Athlone Howth Galway Dublin Athenry Portarlington Kildare Bray Bally- brophy Ennis Limerick Kilkenny Limerick Jct Tralee Mallow Waterford Rosslare Europort Cork Cobh Single Track Double Track

5. Investment Background • Decades of Underinvestment • 1987 Government policy of no substantial investment • Future of network in doubt, options examined • EU Funding made available in the 1990's • EU Structural, Cohesion and Interreg Funds • Dublin / Belfast Upgrading with EU funds • New Locomotives purchased • Some Track Renewal on Main Routes Funded

6. Railway Safety Programme • Knockcroghery Derailment November 1997 • Independent Safety Reviews conducted • High Level Task Force convened • 1999 – 2003 Safety Investment Programme approved • €550m Investment • Ahead of target, expenditure increased

7. Safety Programme 1999-2003 €m Track 260 Signalling, Electrical 37 Terminals 19 Fencing 11 Structures 41 Level Crossings 118 Safety Management Systems 65 TOTAL 550 Actual expenditure higher

8. Progress to Date under NDP • Safety Programme on target • 400 miles of track • 250 bridges • 400 level crossings • Heuston Station near completion • 38 New DART cars in service, 40 ordered • 80 Railcars in service • Drogheda depot near completion • Maynooth line upgrading complete • Order placed for 67 InterCity carriages • DASH Project commenced – 33% increase in DART capacity • Resignalling of main lines underway

10. 9 New Layout 8 7 6 5 Valetting 4 From Inchicore Wash 3 2 1 Heuston – New Layout

13. InterCity Short Term Plans Main plans over next 5 years: • Replace all rolling stock over 30 years old. (67 on order) • Increase service frequency on key radial routes with reduced journey times • Introduce seat reservation system with Internet booking by 2004 • Continue development of station facilities e.g. Heuston

14. Reduction in Journey Times

15. Frequency Targets

17. RAILWAY CATCHMENT POPULATION DUBLIN AREA

18. Projects Complete • 38 DART Carriages in service • 20 Diesel Railcars in service • Maynooth line project complete • DART Extensions complete • New Stations • 80 Diesel Railcars in service • New Depot at Drogheda

19. DART Upgrade Phase 1 • Increase DART capacity by 33% from 6 car to 8 car • Enhanced power supply, platform lengthening, upgrading stations • Renewal of OHLE • 40 additional DART carriages • €180m project, complete autumn 2005

20. Future Suburban Development • Resignalling (DASH 2) for extra paths • Spencer Dock terminal station • Kildare Line – staged capacity increases loading to quadrupling East West • Interconnector tunnel • Electrification of entire network • 4 Tracking Connolly to Howth Junction • Phased expansion in line with available resources.

21. Freight Strategy • Volumes in decline, relatively short distances, most suitable for bulk traffic • Loss making overall with some profitable, units, no subsidy available • Continue to operate profitable bulk business • Prune and re-shape non profitable business seeking cost efficiencies – full train loads • New niche Business opportunities targeted • New Ballina-Waterford Container Service

22. Strategic Rail Review 2003 • Acknowledgement of the period of under-investment • Acknowleges the significant progress of the past 5 years • Endorses the overall approach to investment • Shows a strong future for rail transport in Ireland • Shows positive social & economic benefits

23. Iarnród Éireann Response to SRR • Welcome report, positive recommendations • Role of railway recognised • Strong economic case for investment • Consistent with Iarnród Éireann’s own Development Plan • Financial situation must be addressed, transparent contracts are the way forward • Quantum improvement in service levels must accompany investment • Iarnród Éireann is prepared for the enormous challenge

24. Lightly Used and Disused Lines • Limerick Rosslare and Ballybrophy etc. • Examined as part of Strategic Rail Review • Major investment required, service levels would have to expand • Investment should not be at the expense of priority investment programme • National strategic value may influence future role

25. Strategic Rail Review BMW Options Examined • Athlone Mullingar • Ballinasloe – Galway Commuter Services • Westport – Claremorris – Ballina Commuter • Claremorris – Tuam – Galway Commuter • Galway LRT • Sligo Commuter Services • Western Rail Corridor (Sligo – Cork) • Shannon Airport Link

26. Strategic Rail Review

27. BMW Projects Completed • Finalisation of track renewal - Galway - Westport/Ballina - Sligo • Ancillary Work all Routes - Bridges - Level Crossings - Fencing • Resignalling of Galway line • Maintenance Depot Drogheda • 80 Railcars for long distance commuters • Some Common Expenditure BMW/S&E

28. Growth in Passenger Numbers

29. Developments Galway / Dublin Route • Resignalling Project Complete 2003 • Additional Service on Route 2004 • Replace carriages • Shorten Journey time • Examine additional passing loops • Target hourly Service Frequency

30. Developments Westport/ Dublin Route • Reduced Journey time in 2004 • Increase service frequency in conjunction with Galway Dublin Route • Introduce new InterCity railcars • Resignalling of the line

31. Developments Sligo / Dublin Route • Reduced Journey time in 2004 • Resignalling complete 2005 • Introduce new regional railcars 2006 • Increase service frequency to 6 per day plus commuter services from Longford and Mullingar

32. Future BMW Rail Priorities • Resignalling of Sligo line • Resignalling of Westport line • Replace old rolling stock with InterCity railcars • Increase frequency, smaller trains • Further safety investment • Automation/elimination of level crossings • New Depot in Midlands • Additional passing loops • Station Upgrade/Passenger Facilities

33. Western Rail Corridor • Infrastructure Totally Decayed • Full Renewal Required

34. Western Rail Corridor • Infrastructure Totally Decayed • Full Renewal Required • Restoration to higher standard • Faster speeds, automation, minimal operating costs • Frequent services required

35. Re-assessment of Viability of Western Rail Corridor • Iarnród Éireann willing to co-operate with working party • Regional Planning Guidelines crucial • Land Use and settlement policies to create critical mass • Value for money and prioritisation

36. Conclusions • Good progress being made rebuilding the railway nationally • The InterCity network in the BMW region is now in good condition • Further significant improvements planned over the next 5 years • Further feasibility required on Western Rail Corridor proposal • Iarnród Éireann will co-operate with proposed working