Railway Developments in the BMW Region

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Railway Developments in the BMW Region

• By Tom Finn
• Manager, Strategic Planning, Iarnród Éireann

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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

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Single Track
Double Track
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Heuston New Layout
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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

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Reduction in Journey Times
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Frequency Targets
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RAILWAY CATCHMENT POPULATION DUBLIN AREA
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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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Iarnród Éireann Response to SRR

• Welcome report, positive recommendations
• Role of railway recognised
• Strong economic case for investment
• Consistent with Iarnród Éireanns 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

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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

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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

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Strategic Rail Review
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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/SE

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Growth in Passenger Numbers
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Western Rail Corridor

• Infrastructure Totally Decayed
• Full Renewal Required

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Western Rail Corridor

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

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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

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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