Iarnród Éireann to spend €3.3 million on accessibility

A TOTAL of 12 stations in Dublin city and county will see lift replacements or system upgrades between now and the end of this year, Iarnród Éireann has revealed.

in the first part of a multi-annual programme to improve lift performance and reliability across the network, the 2020 programme will see an investment of €3.3 million, funded by the National Transport Authority.

At three stations – Skerries, Balbriggan and Dun Laoghaire – works will see the installation of new heavy duty stainless steel electric traction lifts, and all 12 stations will see new lift control systems installed, including re-cabling of lift control equipment and sensors, and other system improvements.

The first stations in the programme will be Malahide (commencing next Monday, August  31) and Donabate (commencing September 2).

Alternative arrangements will be advised to customers of reduced mobility, to ensure continued access to services while works are take place at lifts at individual stations.

In total, 52 stations will see major investment in lift facilities as part of a multi-annual programme up to 2024.

Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive Jim Meade said: “With new trains and station enhancements planned, accessibility will be central to the design of all improvements we deliver under the National Development Plan.

“However, improving the reliability and performance of our existing lift network is crucial to ensure customers with reduced mobility have confidence in using our services.  While it is unavoidable that the works themselves will result in lifts being temporarily out of service, we have arrangements in place at each of the stations affected to maintain access to services during the works.

“With funding from the NTA, we can now progress this renewal programme, and upgrade lifts which are older, and which have been the subject of vandalism and misuse, and prolonged exposure to the elements.”

Additionally, Iarnród Éireann recently introduced the Lift Call system at 18 DART and Commuter stations, which provide monitored access to lifts, to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour.  The system sees two control centres monitoring lifts on the DART and Northern Commuter lines, and ensuring access is regulated at all times.  The systems have already seen a reduction in vandalism issues, and facilitated arrests in incidents of vandalism.