Naas/Sallins area

[Derek Wheeler]

From the Leinster Leader.

Disgruntled commuters take their case to Irish Rail

THE crusade for improved rail services for Sallins was delivered straight to the door of Irish Rail this week, writes Paula Campbell.
A delegation from the Naas and Sallins Rail Group met with Irish Rail management on Monday evening.
"We again stressed the need for an extra service in the evening timetable and spoke of the Sunday service," said James Lawless from NASRUG.
"Although the new timetable has yet to be finalised we felt the discussion was quite positive and are at this stage hopeful of some movement on both these issues. A draft timetable should be in the public domain in the next few weeks."
Concerns about the Kildare Route Project and the impact for Naas/Sallins commuters was also raised.
"Our understanding now is that although the four tracks will extend only to Hazelhatch station, we will benefit from more dedicated services as the inner commuter line is moved onto the new tracks," added James. "Therefore we should enjoy more direct, faster services once the project completes.
"There has been ongoing difficulties with the 8.26am service ex-Sallins which Irish Rail explained were due to a locomotive from the Cork line which has to be switched in Portlaoise for operational reasons. They are monitoring this very closely and feel the service should is now on the road to recovery."
The delegation also discussed station facilities including parking which should be addressed when the new complex adjacent station opens next year, shelters and the provision of a text alert service to give commuters advance warning when a train is running late.
Meanwhile Deputy Emmet Stagg recently questioned the Minister for Transport in relation to the provision of Sunday Rail Services for Commuters using Sallins and Hazelhatch Stations.
The Minister advised Deputy Stagg that Iarnrod Eireann are currently carrying out an examination into the possibility of commencing a Sunday service on the Kildare Route. The exercise will include an examination of the demand for the service, the effect of introducing such a service on existing services and the availability of rolling stock and staff to operate such a service.
The minister said a decision would be made on the issue in time for the December 2006 timetable change.