02.12.19
€1bn investment into Ireland’s rail network
The Government of Ireland has today (Dec 2) announced a new €1bn investment into the country’s rail network.
The minster for transport, tourism and sport, Shane Ross has confirmed the €1bn investment as part of a five-year investment programme into Ireland’s heavy rail infrastructure.
The funding will provide an improved rail network through increased service reliability and punctuality, better journey times and the continued safety of rail services.
The money will come through the Infrastructure Managers Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC), for the period of 2020 to 2024.
Investments will be specifically made into rail civil engineering programmes including track and signalling improvements and safety related initiatives.
Minister Ross stated:
“This is a significant step forward in terms of funding the rail network. The Exchequer funding that is committed over the next five years represents an almost 40% increase on the level of funding provided between 2014 and 2018. This level of investment means that the rail network is now being funded at the ‘steady state’ level required to ensure optimal maintenance, renewal and improvement of our rail infrastructure.”
The Iarnród Éireann Infrastructure network currently covers approximately 2,400 km of operational track, 4,440 bridges, 1,100 point ends, 970 level crossings, 144 stations, over 3,300 cuttings and embankments, 372 platforms and 13 tunnels. This includes main line, Dublin suburban and commuter passenger routes, together with freight-only routes.
Independent monitoring body, the Commission for Rail Regulation, will monitor the delivery of the investment programme as set out in the EU Regulations 2015.
Iarnród Éireann chief executive Jim Meade said:
“The very welcome agreement of the contract for 2020 to 2024 enables our Infrastructure team to continue to maintain and enhance the safe provision of our physical network over this five-year period. We thank the Minister and his officials for their ongoing commitment to the sustainable funding of the national asset which our rail network represents.
“We are also grateful for the contribution of the CRR who, together with Department officials engaged in reviewing previous contracts to inform the future works programme and key indicators for monitoring.”