LOCALS travelling from Dublin to towns and cities such as Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Westport can look forward to shorter commuting times.
Iarnrod Ã?ireann is to increase the speed limit on sections of the network early in the New Year as part of its efforts to get people out of their cars and onto public transport.
Changes to speed limits on railway lines between Dublin and the main towns and cities will mean a drop in journey times by up to 20 minutes.
These changes are possible because of a more targeted maintenance programme across the rail network.
Deputy Seán Kenny (Lab) has welcomed the news.
“While rail journey times remain competitive, there is no doubt that the motorway investment has provided us with a challenge,
? said Deputy Kenny, a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee.
“Irish Rail trains are equipped to deliver 160kmh speeds and above, so the key to journey-time improvement is the network.
“Further improvements would require investment, and this has already been highlighted by Irish Rail as a key medium-term priority.
?
Deputy Kenny is hoping these changes will attract more people to use the rail services.
“A strategic report published earlier this year said if
?¬250 million was invested over the next five years, journey times could drop to just two hours on services to Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and two hours and 30 minutes on the Cork route,
? he added.
“The investment would establish rail as a solid option for people making these trips.”