KENNY WELCOMES IRISH RAIL INVESTMENTS

Posted on September 19, 2011 2:43 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin North East T.D. and Oireachtas Transport Committee Member Sean Kenny today welcomed the announcement by Public Transport Minister, Alan Kelly of a €6 million investment programme for Irish Rail.

"An additional €1million will be spent on improving journey times between Portarlington and Dublin, €1million on ticket validating machines and €300K for the additional roll-out of wifi on 63 rail cars and €600,000 for order point heaters to ensure depots are not unduly affected by a harsh winter."

"Minister Kelly informs me that the funding is coming from reallocated capital within the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and is being spent on works that will be completed by the end of this year."

"It is vital that our limited funds are spent well and give value to the exchequer. We want to offer people a proper level of public transport and this requires investment. This funding will greatly enhance both the customer service Irish Rail offers as well as equipping them with the ability to reduce costs in the future."

"It is vitally important that public transport remains a strong option for those who commute. This Government is committed to improving the public transport system and the consumer experience. It is vital that every penny is stretched to the maximum benefit of the users of public transport and I hope that further investment in both improvement of existing services and investment in new services will be made in the near future."