Tuesday 20 March 2007

Eco-friendly trains to improve service

THE FREQUENCY of rail services on the Dublin Rosslare line is set to be improved following the arrival of the country’s first eco-friendly trains last week.
The first 12 carriages in the new €400m ecofriendly fleet arrived at Dublin Port last Tuesday.
The trains will be used to service the Rosslare, Waterford, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Carlow, Portlaoise and Athlone routes.
Speaking at the arrival ceremony, Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen said: “In order to get people to leave their cars at home and use public transport, we have to offer the best facilities and people deserve the best possible services.”
The new railcars are an eco-friendly fleet with reduced emissions meeting EU directives not in force until 2009 and 2012.
They will include automatic PA and information display systems; air-conditioning; CCTV; modern catering; individual seating and advanced safety features.
Wexford Cllr. Joe Ryan said he, for one, was glad to see new rail stock finally being targeted at the Rosslare line.
“The Rosslare line has for many years received rolling stock re-deployed from other lines,” he said.
“These new cars are the first custom built stock for the line. It will see the introduction of a faster and more frequent service to Wexford.”
© Gorey Echo

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