New trains but no DART for Arklow

March 2003

ARKLOW rail commuters can expect an end to the ‘Calcutta-style service’ they are receiving early next year.

But despite the growth in the town, there are no plans to extend the DART to Arklow in the short term.

Iarnrod Eireann, has admitted that the rolling stock on the Dublin to Arklow line is the oldest the company has and is due for replacement.

Bertie Corbett of CIE told Arklow council that 80 new carriages are on order and will allow CIE to replace the Arklow train with modern carriages by early next year.

Councillors complained of: train break-downs, poor heating, poor lighting and no early morning dining car facilities.

Mr Corbett said that, contrary to belief, the number of Arklow commuters using the morning train was 100.

He accepted that there was a problem with heating on the present train, but said that there was no demand for an early morning cuppa on the service and that it would not be happening.

Councillor Nicky Kelly likened the Arklow trains to those in Calcutta and complained of people having to use their cigarette lighters to read their newspapers.

He said there was gridlock on roads because they did not have an adequate train service.

Cllr. Mary Whitty said that Arklow was now a dormitory town of Dublin with hundreds going on the train to Dublin in the mornings.

Mr. Corbett assured Cllr. Pat Fitzgerald that Iarnrod Eireann had no plans to downgrade Arklow Railway Station now that IFI had closed down, but they also had no plans in the short term to extend the DART to Arklow.

Cllr Peter Dempsey was told that that the roof had now been removed from the store at the railway station, and Dr Bill O’Connell was told Iarnrod Eireann would talk to the council about converting the station yard to a car park.