Dundalk rail passengers up by 2%

THE number of passengers using trains from Dundalk’s Clarke station rose by 2% last year, according to the latest figures from Iarnrod Eireann.

In 2017 there were 347,000 passengers, compared to 340,000 in 2016.

Although a marginal increase, train services continue to prove a popular choice for local commuters, as was shown with an announcement last week that the DART services are set to be extended to Louth.

Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd, said the extension of the Dart to serve Drogheda, Laytown and Gormanstown stations would be welcome news for commuters and also encourage more industrial development.

‘An extension of the Dart line would see passenger capacity increased very significantly. Each DART can carry up to 1,000 commuters.’

The Louth Deputy added ‘ There could be a service from the town to Dublin city centre every ten minutes at peak times creating a huge advantage for commuters in terms of choice and travel time.

He said that this would mean Louth commuters could travel easily within the city ‘and timetabling provisions would have to be made to ensure people can still get to work in Dublin at the same travel time as their current schedule.’

Deputy O’Dowd continued: ‘It would also open up better links between Dundalk and Drogheda, and open up the prospect of reopening the railway station for Dunleer, subject to support from private developers.’

‘I am calling for the Dart to be up and running here within the next four years. This can easily be achieved with new diesel electric trains.

The track would not need to be electrified immediately and as soon as new trains are delivered by the manufacturer they could be in operation.

The extension of the Dart to Drogheda would transform the local economy and commuter experience, ensuring a sustainable future for families living and working in Louth.’