Fianna Fáil’s record on transport policy

On politics.ie the other day I participated in a debate on transport policy and Fianna Fáil’s record over the past few years. While I’m always one for objective analysis, credit where credit’s due and likewise when the opposite is the case, I do think the government has made strides in this area that are not always acknowledged. Similarly there are a few areas where I would like to see more being done. I detail below the arguments I made.

To start with I don’t think the party/govt have done all that badly in the rail arena over the past couple of years, in the time I’ve been an activist on either front anyhow.

When I got involved in rail campaigns I was aware of Platform11’s then proposal to ‘Extend the Dart’ by creating three new Dart lines linked by underground tunnel. I was a fan of the proposal and exchanged correspondence with the offices of both the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Transport. I also championed the issue at the Killarney Ard Fheis a few years back. Sure enough Transport 21 was announced and the Interconnector was a key component. So good start.

Other developments in my own area include the Kildare Route project which is certainly in progress, and due for completion on target. The Spencer Dock station opened in 2007 for commuters on the Western/Maynooth line which relieved the slot contention in Connolly and allowed commuters more choice travelling into the IFSC. Recently moves have been made to reopen Broadstone station for trains on the Southern/Waterford line which will improve contention at Connolly and again represents a step in the right direction.

Metro North and West are badly needed and whilst there may be debate about the routes, Metro West in particular will open up a huge corridor all along the west city which is not particularly well served at the moment, and also aid connectivity meaning that a commuter from say my part of the world (Kildare line) could hop an Arrow to Clondalkin and in one change board Metro West for the airport. With the Interconnector make a similar change at Stephen’s green or Pearse and head for the Southside DART.

The LUAS has been a success and is hugely popular. More lines are planned and the railway order went out for the citywest line just before Christmas. The Lucan and other additional lines can only be good news for the residents in those areas.

Services such as the hourly Cork-Dublin are welcome additions I think, even though some may label them as expensive playthings, anyone that’s had to make the journey appreciates the service. Significant service frequency improvements are due to occur on most routes over the next 2-3 years.

I am also consider progress on the Western rail corridor a positive development.

The government has pledged huge funding, 31BN in Transport21, the Department plans 4BN spending in 2008 alone. Half of this (1.9BN) is on public transport.

Park and ride facilities could be improved but are starting to emerge and I think a congestion charge will need to be considered for city centre motorists within peak hours once adequate alternatives are in place. I believe we are not that far off and a carrot and stick may have to be applied at some point. London has made great strides since it was introduced and even in Dublin car traffic between the canals has actually lessened in recent years showing public transport is succeeding although it’s a long war.

Although a strong advocate of public transport, I would not at all dismiss the progress on our roads. The M11, M50 and M7 are just three roads I happen to use regulalry and have all seen massive improvement in the last couple of years. The M50 might be in flux at the moment but remember only a few years ago it ended at Dundrum. Now I can drive from Kildare to Wexford without ever leaving motorway. This sort of upgrade is occurring on roads and motorways all over the country. The M1 in particular is a fantastic road now and highly praised by anyone who travels North on a regular basis.

While I am not familiar with the detail, in Cowen’s budget speech he referred to a number of local projects in the Cork (and Waterford?) areas, so it seems commuter services outside Dublin are beginning to gain traction too.

Are there things I don’t like? Well yes of course.

I had understood Meath on Track would occur, or at least get a good start under this administration – I’m not up to speed on the detail but have heard murmurs this may not be happening – I think it is a no brainer but I’m not in the Ministers office and I don’t have the whole picture.

The Kildare route project was initially due to four-track as far as Kildare town to include Sallins/Naas and Newbridge stations along the way and now ends in Hazelhatch. I’m still a little suspicious on this one although I’m told by Irish Rail and by some trainspotters of my acquaintance that four-tracking for the inner commuter loop is all that’s necessary and we will enjoy faster more frequent mainlines once the inner shuttles are out of track contention.

I cannot understand the fact that it takes two hours and five minutes to travel sixty odd miles between Gorey to Conolly whereas similar distances to mid-land and Northern line stations can express it in around the hour.

I would prefer the LUAS not have to contend with cars at red line junctions between Heuston and Connolly although it seems to have settled into a reasonably harmonious rhythm at this stage.

The two Luas lines not being joined funnily doesn’t bother me that much. In London which has a fantastic underground there are lots of connections where you have to switch by bus or on foot over ground. The Interconnector to link Heuston and the DART line is a far bigger deal. But funny noone except transport anoraks (including myself) seemed to care about joining the two city centre rail lines yet the world and its mother was in arms over the Luas lines being so.

Day to day stuff is what irritates me most although I see that as implementation of policy and an operational matter for the provider, i.e. Irish Rail. Our line has really dogged punctuality issues of late, which I might well raise with the Minister next opportunity at least he can direct a boot in the right direction and maybe get someone moving on it. Overcrowding was a problem on our line and chronically on the Maynooth line but that has been addressed significantly on the Maynooth line with 300% capacity increases and to some extent on our line through additional services. It seems we’ve been waiting forever for the new railcars but over 200 of them are on the way and the first ones went into service on the Sligo line just before Christmas. Less trumpeted projects such as the new depot in Portlaois will see a step change in frequencies and services on Southern and Western lines, including Kildare, and will open later this year. Stations all along the line will be upgraded under the route project, ineed the planning notice is up at Sallins station already.

So all in all, as far as I can see, it doesn’t stack up too badly.

Note: More info on these projects available at Irish Rail and Transport21 (detail under ‘projects’ tab).

Sallins station car park finally opens

After months of waiting, grating and anticipating the new parking at Naas & Sallins rail station finally opened this week. The facility is part of the overall complex in the Waterways which includes a supermarket and apartments but the underground piece is exclusively for rail users. The old car parks on both sides of the station still exist but will also become pay parking and have been altered somewhat to allow link up with the new facility. Cars now enter the old Naas side and the underground facility via the entrance to the Waterways at the traffic lights. The Sallins entrance and parking remains unchanged although that will also now become chargeable. A net total of 202 extra spaces will be created by the development.

The charge will be 2 EURO a day or better value 5 EURO for a 7-day ticket. Whilst there were some quibbles over this my personal view is that it is not unreasonable. There is a brand new facility provided so it is not just charging for what used be free. Also whilst it is not an option for everyone, the charge may incentivise some to now walk, cycle or feeder bus to station rather than driving.

NASRUG have lobbied on this issue since the start and with the opening of this car park we negotiated an initial waiver of the pay-parking period until the new year to at least get people accustomed to the facility. So until the 31st Dec no charge applies.

With my Fianna Fáil hat on I also sought a form of tax relief on commuter parking. Whilst it was not granted in this budget I understand it will be considered over the next year and may well form part of the taxsaver scheme in future. (Some coverage here although typo on my name)

Many will breathe a sigh of relief that the new facility is finally in operation. Obviously the many motorists who had struggled day in, day out for the past year or two as the old car park creaked at the seams. Similarly the village had begun to suffer the effects of the overspill and parking all around the main street, community centre, canal view, nearby estates was becoming a nightmare for local residents and businesses. Not all due to rail users but it must be acknowledged the station shortage was a major factor. The extra spaces will hopefully encourage more people to use the service which again can only be a good thing. Less cars on the roads to Dublin and more people on the trains.

There is more to be done but this is definitely the right direction. With increased usage comes the need for greater capacity in car parking and greater capacity on trains. Continued investment in public transport is required to bring our service up to speed but I am heartened by the capital spending pledges of the budget. And the promise of Transport21 with all that will bring…

As my home broadband is switching providers this may be my last post of 2007. Seasons greetings and happy new year to all!

NASRUG negotiate extra train in evening gap

NASRUG (Naas and Sallins Rail Users Group) is a commuter lobby group serving the users of Naas and Sallins railway station. A strong advocate of public transport, and a daily commuter to Dublin myself, I have been involved with the group since its inception.

We lobby on a number of matters but primarily on timetable changes, station facilities (parking, shelters, buildings), service levels (punctuality, reliability, announcements), ticketing and fare structures and longer term projects such as Transport 21 and route upgrades.

Looking back over the last few years I would say we have consistently punched above our weight and no less this week.

Platforms at Heuston Station

As in previous years, we received an advance copy of the timetable and whilst it was reasonable overall and included a few sweeteners (such as a later last train at 11pm which we’d always listed as a ‘nice-to-have’), there was one outstanding issue.

This was a gap in the evening service between 18.35 and 20.05 returning from Heuston to Sallins. For many people working a little later than the traditional 9-5 this posed significant problems in getting home. Allowing for the fact that Heuston itself is a bit away from most workplaces, many folk were stranded between these trains until the 20.05 and were stuck getting home at 9pm daily as a result.

Previous years negotiations had seen repeated improvements (we made a lot of breakthroughs in the 07 timetable including an improved evening service and a Sunday service) but this gap was the one remaining ‘black spot’ in the Sallins timetable.

Armed with a flood of protest from the online group I approached our contact in Irish Rail and made him fully aware of the difficulties posed. There were challenges around rolling stock and conflicts with mainline trains, but we kept on the pressure and IR kept with it, and I finally got the good news on Wednesday that we would indeed get an additional train.

From Monday, 10th December, the 18.50 service ex-Heuston will stop in Sallins. It will not be printed in official timetables, being an 11th hour concession, but it will operate.

Credit where credit’s due and Irish Rail took our points on board here. They showed flexibility and a willingness to meet us halfway and I am certainly appreciative.

NASRUG have always had a policy of positive engagement and whilst we can and do get tough when the occasion calls for it, equally we listen to the other side at all times and usually we meet in the middle.

Communications build trust, trust builds communications. It’s certainly worked out this time.