If the service wants to compete with the M1/A1 and further improvements, then they will have to go high speed. If they anticipate doing that and increasing the frequency, then the infrastructure north of Dundalk and the northern commuter line will have to be addressed.
New rolling stock is only part of the battle. Even if the current Enterprise service was efficient and reliable, it would still struggle to attract higher passenger numbers given the road improvements. The initial investment was short sighted because southern Ireland's economic boom exposed it. Once the Newry bypass is upgraded to DC, the Enterprise is in real trouble. By 2010the entire IC network will be shown up for what it is - out of touch.
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