€400m Dublin-Kildare rail project commences

A €400m project to improve rail services between Dublin Heuston and Kildare is getting underway.

The Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has signed a Railway Order, which allows Iarnrod Éireann to acquire land and double track capacity to Hazelhatch.

Two new stations will be built and others will be upgraded under the project, which is part of the Transport 21 plan. It is due to be completed by 2010.

Minister Cullen said he hoped it would encourage more people onto the trains.

“The passenger numbers on the route for example, going each way every day, are about 11,000,” he said.

“When his project is fully finished there will be over 36,000 capacity every day so this is a huge improvement in terms of public transport and will attract a lot more people out of their cars and into public transport.”