[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Inniskeen

Usage on the WRC may well be relatively modest. Possible reasons include service frequency, low end railcars, uncompetitive journey times

Surely this is the actual basis of the complaints about the WRC, not reasons to support it.

There are many other services and facilities which are very modestly used including Dunboyne/M3 (average off peak load maybe 3 or 4 passengers per train).

We'll see what the figures are like when they come out. However, the M3 passengers are being carried only a few km and then the train fills with Blanchardstown passengers.

The huge KRP stations at Adamstown, Clondalkin and Parkwest have loadings per train on a par with the now closed South Wexford line.

Those stations need a few things before they come into their own - proper stopping services by using the 4 tracks and ultimately, direct services to the city centre and rest of the DART network via the interconnector. And those stations are funded by development along the line compared to almost all the funding for the WRC coming from central government (except the land for Crusheen and Oranmore stations).

Many off-peak DARTs carry barely a handful of passengers for much of their trip, especially in the evening.

And many will carry a thousand or more during the peak, with people getting on and off at each station. Overall those thousands pay for the less used services. That said, having off peak services does two thing (a) it takes pressure off some of the peak services (b) it encourages people to use the system by providing them with a guarantee of choice of services and greater comfort.