Transport | Public representatives for rail service extensions in Co Kildare

To ask the Minister for Transport the degree to which the relevant authority is willing to accept the concerns expressed at various stakeholder discussions with the public and private representatives with particular reference to the need to avail of the opportunity to extend electric rail services beyond Maynooth to Kilcock as well as Hazelhatch and Sallins thereby investing for the future transport needs of the north County Kildare region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The requirement for further extension of DART services beyond the current scope of the DART+ Programme is set out in the draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042. Section12.4.9 of the Draft Strategy states “Forecast demand for travel, when considered in tandem with the need to reduce transport emissions, has shown that, over the lifetime of the Transport Strategy, there will be a requirement to extend the DART+ Programme to key locations in the GDA. An extension of the DART service on the Kildare Line to Naas / Sallins will provide additional capacity to this area, including to the planned regional Park & Ride site in this vicinity. Given its location within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the associated potential for growth, it is considered that it will be necessary in the future to extend some DART services to commence and terminate at Kilcock.”