Mitchell demands Rail Strategy is revised to improve Wicklow Rail Service

Mitchell demands Rail Strategy is revised to improve Wicklow Rail Service

The draft All Island Rail Strategy ignored improvements needed to the Wicklow Rail Service. Cllr Derek Mitchell said ‘I have made a submission demanding improvements as the Wicklow Rail line has the worst service and is the only single track one in the Greater Dublin Area. The Council has also made a submission of similar points following my request. I hope the strategy is improved as the population is expanding rapidly ’.

My 2018 rail plan provided a 3km double tracking north of Greystones allowing 50% more trains. This was validated by a Jacobs Study and I thought included in the DART+ plan. Also it provided more direct trains to Kilcoole & Wicklow Town which probably needs passing loops. The Strategic Study seems to reject this as they are not mentioned.

The service to Kilcoole and Wicklow Town has only 2 trains at rush hour, both short. The draft Strategy says the direct Commuter Services will be replaced in the long term by an hourly shuttle from Wexford to Greystones. It says that passing loops were considered but rejected.

Of €30Bn spending NONE is proposed in Wicklow.

My belief, and that of Fine Gael, is that providing better public transport is the way to reduce car commuting.

I call for the Wicklow Rail improvements to be included in the strategy and implemented.

Click here to download Strategic Rail SUB9-23.