CIÉ companies risk losing €28m as regulator ups performance targets

CIÉ’S three transport companies have been warned that they could lose up to 10% of their annual subvention if they don’t meet improved performance targets.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) announced yesterday that Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann risk losing almost €28 million of their annual budget if they fail to meet new standards in relation to the reliability and punctuality of services.

The authority confirmed it has revised and reviewed upwards, quality standards for the three companies.

Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann have had to meet performance targets since signing their latest contract in December 2009 in return for obtaining exchequer funding through the Public Service Obligation budget.

The companies were given a combined allocation of €276m last year to provide services that are deemed socially necessary but financially unviable.

Transport authority chief executive, Gerry Murphy, said a review of the performance of the three companies over the first year of the new contracts had highlighted scope for higher standards to improve the journey experience for customers.

The NTA has issued the three CIÉ firms with higher performance targets in areas relating to reliability, punctuality, customer information, handling queries and reporting on revenue protection.

The latest quarterly performance reports show that Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann all met their minimum compliance levels in relation to a number of services as well as punctuality and the provision of customer information.

The NTA can review the contracts, which conform to strict standards set down by the EU in order to avail of public money, at any time.

Meanwhile, the transport authority has also approved service changes proposed by Irish Rail which will deliver shorter journey times, improved connections and some additional services for passengers using trains from Heuston Station in Dublin and regional routes.

The changes were made following a new customer feedback process which saw almost 1,000 Irish Rail passengers respond to proposed timetable changes announced by Irish Rail.

The revised timetable will come into effect on May 8.

The NTA said it welcomed the initiative which would allow rail passengers to be more closely involved in the planning of services by Irish Rail.

Among the services which will operate to the new timetable are Cork-Tralee, Galway-Limerick, Waterford-Limerick Junction and Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh.

Commuter services to Portlaoise, Portarlington, Monasterevin, Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins, Athenry and Ennis will also benefit from new services and extra stops on existing services as a result of passenger feedback.