Rail improvements on schedule

13 October 2003: A 130 per cent increase in capacity on the Kildare Arrow rail service is on schedule to be ready for next January.

The increased services at peak times will be possible through the introduction of longer trains and increased services.

Platforms at Hazlehatch and Sallins have been lengthened to cope with 8-carriage trains, and the provision of four new platforms at Heuston Station and the deployment of additional new diesel railcars will also play their part.

Meanwhile, peak time services on the Maynooth Suburban Rail Line will also be improved from January, by 25 per cent.

But further improvements on this line will not be possible until 2007, when a planned upgrading of the signalling system will be implemented.