Labour senator calls for review of Dunboyne rail timetable

The Dunboyne to Docklands rail service is in danger of being under used because there is no city centre stop on weekdays, claims the Labour Party spokesperson on commuter affairs, Senator Dominic Hannigan. An engineer and transport specialist by profession, the East Meath senator is calling for an independent review of the pathing capacity at Connolly Station. However, Iarnrod Eireann says that commuters who wish to travel through Connolly have the option of changing trains at Clonsilla. “At weekends the Dunboyne train does stop in Connolly but during the week the stop is at Docklands,” Senator Hannigan says. “People using the new service to get into the city find the Docklands stop is just too far out. The fact that they have to double back on their journey, by taking a bus or a Luas into the city centre, is putting some people off using the new service,” he added. He maintains there may be room for improving the Dunboyne to Dublin train timetable. “I understand Irish Rail has concerns about the ability of Connolly Station to handle any more trains at peak times. However there may be some capacity in what is know as rush hour’s shoulder periods such as in the morning between 9am to 10am. For instance it may be possible for a train leaving Dunboyne at 9am to get a slot in Connolly for around 9.30am. An independent audit of what is known as train pathing could reveal potential solutions,” Hannigan explained. The Labour senator has asked Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to comment on the number of passengers using the park and ride facilities at Dunboyne station since its September opening. He has also asked the minister about the numbers using Dunboyne to Dublin bus services both before and after the opening of the new train station. “The interconnecting tunnel which will solve the congestion problems at Connolly is not due to come on stream until 2018. In the meantime the new Dunboyne train route is very welcome as it aims is to make the daily commute faster and easier for Meath commuters. However it is important that the public perceive it as doing that, in order for this great new service to be fully utilised,” Senator Hannigan concluded. A spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann says that the company is operating at capacity through Connolly at present and is not in position to operate any more trains through Connolly on weekdays. “This was the reason that Docklands Station was built and opened in 2007 to provide additional much needed capacity through the city centre,” the spokesperson added. “Commuters who wish to travel through Connolly have the option of changing trains at Clonsilla. Docklands is within walking distance of a wide catchment area, including the city centre, and the Grand Canal Dock area via the Samuel Beckett Bridge; Red Line Luas services are a short distance from the station, and Dublin Bus route 151 runs directly to the city centre and onwards towards Adamstown.” Meanwhile, train services from Meath M3 Parkway/Dunboyne stations will serve Broombridge at morning and evening peak times from this week, according to Deputy Mary Wallace, who wants feedback on the rail service. “I have received very positive feedback from commuters on the new Meath M3 Parkway/Dunboyne train service and this additional service to stop at Broombridge during peak hours will further enhance the service to people from our area,” she says. Deputy Wallace has called again for feedback from commuters to find out their overall experience using the train service by connecting through www.marywallace.ie, mary.wallace@oireachtas.ie or on facebook.