The Future For Iarnród Éireann

Michael Reidy Strategic & Business Planning Manager

Chartered Institute Of Highways and Transportation 17 th February 2011

Background

1 PLANNING OVERVIEW

• Very significant population growth recorded over 1996- 2006

• c.40% of national population in the greater area.

• Significant widening of the Dublin Commuter belt.

• 16 of 20 NSS Gateways and Hubs on national rail network

• Future population projections now less clear.

Widening Of The Dublin Rail Commuter Belt

Dundalk OUTER Commuter Belt INNER Commuter Belt Longford Drogheda

Mullingar Iarnrod Eireann Portrush Rail Network Coleraine

Larne

Antrim Athlone Bangor

Belfast Maynooth Portadown Connolly

Newry Ballina Dundalk Heuston

Longford Westport Drogheda Greystones Mullinga r Balbriggan Kildare Knockcroghery Athlone Ballinasloe Clonsilla Howth Portarlington Maynoot h Connolly Athenry Heuston Kildare Greyston es Portarlington Athy Athy Portlaoise Wicklow Ballybrophy Portlaoise Wicklow Ennis Carlow Arklow

Limerick Kilkenny Gorey Jnc Ballybrophy New Ross Wexford Tralee Rosslare Europort Banteer Mallow Carlow Killarney Arklow Cobh

Kilkenny Gorey

2 Rail Policy Influences

• Positive Influences • Negative Influences

– Political acceptability – Competition for fund – Sustainability – Low densities – Regional development – Economic – EU policies commentators

Expanding the Railway

Expand

Decline Rebuild

•Recession and •Rapid population •Emphasis on Sustainable declining and economic growth Development. population •Availability of EU •Transport 21 funds •No investment Funds funds •Major rail safety •Future of programme network in doubt 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

3 Drivers For Rail Investment

• Pre Transport 21 – 3 rounds of EU funding – Railway Safety review

• Transport 21 – DTO Platform for Change (2002) – Strategic Rail Review (2003)

• Post Transport 21 – NTA Vision 2030 (2011) – Strategic Rail Review (2011)

T21 IÉ Projects

• Dublin Commuter – DART Underground Programme

• InterCity – Expansion and renewal of fleet – Railway Safety Programme

• Regional – Western Rail Corridor – Cork Commuter rail

4 Dublin Commuter

Background

• Significant progress to date:- – Eight car capacity throughout – Expanded diesel and electric fleets. – New stations at key locations.

• But still congested and disjointed network:- – Inadequate signalling capacity – Congestion north of Connolly – Inadequate city centre penetration

5 Long Term Development

DART from City Center

DART to City Centre Connolly to To & From Dundalk Maynooth

DART Underground Programme 1

• DU Tunnel – City Centre tunnel ( – ) – 6 stations including 3 major interchanges.

• Ancillary Works – Resignalling (Northern and Maynooth lines) – Electrification (Maynooth, Hazelhatch, Drogheda) – Additional track capacity (Kildare line) – Phased fleet and depot capacity.

• Operations – Two grade separated corridors. – Turnbacks facilitate short running.

6 Docklands Heuston

Heuston

7 Docklands Heuston

DART Underground Programme 2

• Very positive business case and wider economic benefits.

• Capacity of Dublin commuter rail network will be substantially increased to meet projected demand levels well beyond the foreseeable future.

• Provide for a quantum improvement in city centre access and access between suburbs while acting as the backbone of a wider integrated public transport network.

• Support the more sustainable development of the greater Dublin area including concentrated development in the central area.

8 DART Underground Programme 3

• Substantial progress to date. – Kildare route capacity – 1st phase completed. – Northern line resignalling ongoing. – DART Underground public enquiry ongoing. – Maynooth line resignalling and electrification – preparation of railway order submission. – Kildare line 2 nd phase capacity and electrification – preparation of railway order submission. – Fleet specification and depot site appraisal.

• Reaffirmed as a major Government priority. – Difficult funding position for next four years.

InterCity

9 Background

• Major advances in track renewal, signal upgrades and crossings. • From the oldest to the newest InterCity fleet in Europe. • Significant increases in frequencies throughout. • Journey time is the key issue going forward:- – Completion of the inter urban motorway network – Significant speed restrictions throughout network

Road Rail Journey Times

10 Cork Route Competitive Advantage

Cork Route Speed Bands

11 Belfast Route Speed Bands

Future For InterCity

• Avoid mistakes of the past – ongoing asset renewal.

• More competitive journey times. – Fleet capacity 160kph.

• Further frequency increases.

• Longer term electrification

12 Rail Freight

Freight Overview

• Difficult market to compete in:- – Lack of rail freight grants. – Aggressive road competition and large capacity. – Short distances, few bulks, no international through traffic and limited rail heads.

• Focus on commercial opportunities. – Bulks: mineral ore, pulp wood, waste. – Point to point container traffic with minimal handling.

• Port connections.

13 Future for Rail

Summary

• Strong policy support:- – Environment & sustainability. – Eliminate bottlenecks.

• But limited funding in short term.

• Major priorities:- – Renewal. – Dublin commuter capacity. – Competitive InterCity journey times. – Commercial freight.

14 Future Vision

Strategic Goal: • Attractive customer service – Frequency and journey times To provide safe, accessible and integrated • Integrated Rail Network rail services that – Interchange and missing links contribute to sustainable • Greener Transport Solutions economic and regional – Electrification and Renewable development in an Energy efficient manner • Sustainable Development – Support NSS and RPGs

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