Increase Capacity on Maynooth Suburban Rail Line

[eugene]

Just saw this on the Labour Party site while I was looking for information on the Maynooth line electrification works. Just wonder which of the level crossings will be upgraded first. I live beside Reillys Bridge and see the traffic problems it causes every morning

Stagg Welcomes Proposals to Increase Capacity on Maynooth Suburban Rail Line
Issued : Tuesday 16 October, 2007
Areas : Maynooth/Leixlip

Deputy Emmet Stagg questioned the Minister for Transport in relation to the City Centre Resignalling Project and other measures to increase capacity on the Maynooth Suburban Line including additional carriages at peak periods.

The Minister advised Deputy Stagg that the remaining peak period services operating with 4 carriages will be extended to 8 carriages during 2008 following the reallocation of commuter railcars currently on use on the Sligo line when new intercity railcars are introduced over the coming months on the Sligo line.

In relation to the City Centre Resignalling the Minister advised Deputy Stagg that Iarnrod Eireann are currently reviewing its plans for resignalling as part of its broader plans for the upgrade of the railway infrastructure in the Dublin area. Specifically in addition to electrification of the Maynooth line Iarnrod Eireann intend to resignal the line and where possible eliminate level crossings. Crossings along the line are at Blakestown, Clonsilla, Porterstown, Coolmine, Ashtown and Reillys and the most critical crossings are from Clonsilla to the City Centre. These works which are expected to be completed by 2011 would substantially increase capacity on the Maynooth Suburban Line.

Deputy Stagg has welcomed the proposals to further increase capacity on the Maynooth Suburban Rail Line and awaits final confirmation on the phasing of the works.

[Mark Gleeson]

Nothing new so, everything in that has been on this forum for at least the last 6 months, not all Maynooth line trains will be made 8 coaches due to restrictions in storage off P7 most will be 8

Reilly's is on the hit list, waiting on local authority the roads have been realigned to allow for it, bridge is there problem

Proposed bridge west of Clonsilla to eliminate both Clonsilla and Blakestown

Porterstown is on a single lane road and not a operational problem

Ashtown and Coolmine are rather more challenging to solve

[ThomasJ]

How long could you see it before the electrification works on the Maynooth line starts. Would the works take long?

[Mark Gleeson]

That very question is before the public inquiry of the Clonsilla Pace line

[Colm Donoghue]

Surely signalling through the city centre (Connolly) can be decoupled from removing level crossings and electrifying the sligo lines

The new bridge over the canal and railway just east of porterstown. build a short link road to porterstown road from the roundabout. close porterstown lc
close clonsilla lc and route traffic past luttrelstown to this new bridge for the time being.

[And]

Did I read that above Ministerial response correctly? I.e. planned electrification of the Maynooth line by 2011? I had assumed electrification would be complete maybe a year or so before the interconnector - 2011 is a big improvement on that. Or is it just level crossing works that are planned to be complete by then?

[Mark Gleeson]

Maynooth line was always the first to be electrified

Jury is out on if the line to Dunboyne/Pace will be electrified from day one

Tenders are already out for extra DART coaches, which would match up with 2011

Nothing new here

[And]

So in just about 4 years we'll have DART on Maynooth line...I hope so. I assume that prior to the interconnector its peak frequency wouldn't be quite up to current DART levels, even after the city centre resignalling, but still, DART in 2011 would be very welcome.

[Mark Gleeson]

Be faster, more reliable and have slightly more space per coach

[James Shields]

Be faster, more reliable and have slightly more space per coach

And let's not forget, from a passenger perspective: quieter!

[Mark Gleeson]

Its the vibration really not the noise

[Colm Moore]

Is "Blakestown" the one at Pakenham (canal) Bridge in Barberstown?

[Colm Donoghue]

Its the vibration really not the noise

Like the dentist said when I was a chap with his knee on my chest and a piece of ironmongery the size of a car jack in my mouth
"its pressure really not pain"

The maynooth line especially from Clonsilla in to dublin should have more services than Drogheda or Balbriggan. Pre-electrification, it should have at least the same number, especially in the off peak.