A NORTHSIDE TD has raised the issue of reduced carriage numbers on the DART in the Dail.
Dublin Bay North TD Terence Flanagan said the DART is a vital lifeline in his constituency.
“Constituents have been raising their concerns with me for some time about reduced train sizes, especially during peak times when the largest number of people are using the service,
? Deputy Flanagan told the Dail.
“Over the last number of months Iarnród Ã?ireann has implemented a new policy of providing reduced train sizes as a cost saving measure.
“The shorter trains were meant to be reserved for off-peak times only. However, shorter trains have been in service during the rush-hour commute in the mornings and evenings.
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Deputy Flanagan said his constituents were already paying substantial amounts to use the DART service.
“It was announced recently that the National Transport Authority has approved ticket price increases of up to 10.3 per cent, which will affect all DART users in Dublin Bay North,
? he stated.
“I do not think that price increases are justified with the service the way it is at present.
“I do not think that everyone expects a seat when travelling to and from work at peak times, but they do deserve to not be cramped in hot and overcrowded carriages.
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Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny recently told our sister paper, Southside People, that the company had made recent changes to off-peak time trains, which now operate predominantly as two-carriage DARTs.
“This is with the exception of times of events and other heavier demand, when we scale train sizes upwards,
? Mr Kenny said.
“At peak times we have over the past 18 months operated a mix of four-carriage, six carriage and eight-carriage DARTs.
“We’ve closely monitored numbers travelling to ensure we provide as efficient a service as possible by matching train size to actual demand. This includes allowing for full loading with high levels of standing, which is the norm in urban rail systems internationally at peak times.
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Mr Kenny pointed out that exchequer funding to Irish Rail had reduced by $64.5m, or 34 per cent, since 2008 with further reductions next year.
“We therefore must operate as efficiently as possible in managing our costs and deliver fuel savings with associated environmental benefits,
? he added.
“We want to maintain our service frequency so train size is our main means of adjusting to current demand levels.
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Mr Kenny said Irish Rail would increase train sizes if services were unable to cater for the numbers travelling.
“Indeed we have already done so with some peak and off-peak services as demand patterns change,
? he stated.
“This will be a process of ongoing monitoring and review.
“Should we see significant growth in demand, we have the fleet capacity to respond to this.
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Local councillor Declan Flanagan (FG) said he had similar concerns regarding shortened DARTs.
“The current problem with reduced train sizes needs to be fully addressed by Iarnród Ã?ireann as a matter of urgency to ensure that customers are getting the quality of service that they are paying for,
? he stated.