New car park opens for Enfield rail commuters

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was joined by champion jockey Johnny Murtagh on Monday to officially open Iarnród Éireann"s newest park and ride facility at Enfield Railway Station. The car park has been significantly upgraded as part of Iarnród Éireann"s National Car Park Expansion Programme. Some 140 new parking spaces, including seven spaces for those with mobility and sensory impairment, have been provided and the total car park capacity at Enfield Station is now 163 spaces. There is also a set-down and pick-up area and CCTV and digital recording facilities have been provided, as well as improved lighting and landscaping works. There is also a direct accessible entrance ramp straight from the car park to the platform. A specially cast bronze plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion and local public representatives were in attendance. The new facility has been warmly welcomed by commuters in Meath. Speaking at the official opening, the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann, Dick Fearn, said: 'This top-class park and ride facility will allow more commuters in the Enfield area to switch from congested roads to a strong and improving commuter rail service.' Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a major programme of significant expansion and upgrade works to car parks across the company"s network. A number of carparks including Mallow, Ennis, Leixlip Louisa Bridge, Tullamore, Sallins, Naas and Gormanston have already been completed with customers seeing a dramatic increase in spaces as well as improved CCTV, lighting, sufaces and accessibility. Iarnród Éireann says it plans to continue on this programme of works to ensure customers, particularly patrons of busy commuter stations, have improved car-parking facilites. The car park is the latest boost for Enfield commuters, who last year saw the number of daily trains to Dublin increase from six to 10.