Tuskar Hogan in the Indo Today

The RPA could just as easily post a press release stating that "Tram Passengers Up 100% since 2003" - that's how meaningless this CIE report is. We badly need well informed journalist in this country who actually use and understand the purpose of public transport.

Be great if this guy might be able one day to write an informed article on rail and mentioned that CIE managers were literally forced into running commuter services on the Maynooth line by Albert Reyonlds. They said there was no demand for commuter services on the Maynooth line. Just like they are saying there is no capacity on the Phoenix Park tunnel route now.

Treacy mate, next time you are talking to the CIE Property Developers (who occassionally dabble in public transport), ask them if the alleged CIE public transport information kiosk at Dublin Airport actually performs a meaningful fuction such as selling bus tickets. So that arriving air travellers using Dublin Bus a few yards away do not have to look for excat change and the bus drivers can then concentrate on moving in and out of the terminal ASAP. Suggest to Dr Lynch that it might be a good idea to do that rather with the CIE "bus and rail" kiosk, rather than using it to promote CIE package tours and day trips. While you're at it inform him that public transport is not day trips to Ballykissangel nor building apartments.

Iarnrod Eireann EU's 'fastest growing railway'
Treacy Hogan - Indo (of course...)
Environment Correspondent

IARNROD Eireann is the fastest growing passenger railway in Europe, new figures show.

Passenger numbers have risen by over 40pc in a decade.

In an end of year report published today, Dr John Lynch, CIE chairman, said that following an earlier phase work that focused on track, signalling and other critical infrastructure work, the company was now delivering tangible benefits to customers.

He said that this was happening through their improved fleet, station facilities and customer service initiatives.

Iarnrod Eireann has invested over €1.5bn in rebuilding the railways since 2000. There was continued growth in demand across Intercity, Dart and commuter services, with another record year estimated at 37.7m journeys.

The busy Maynooth line alone saw capacity grow by 40pc with service improvements introduced this month.

The route, which runs through some of the fastest growing communities in the country such as Leixlip, Clonsilla and Castleknock, will now have capacity for over one million additional peak journeys each year.

Of an investment project programme totalling €1.3bn, the company is currently €37m better than budget.