LAST UPDATE | 3 Apr

A PROPOSAL TO stop direct train services between Dublin and Wexford and instead make passengers change along the line has been labelled “short-sighted” by a Government party senator.

A rail expansion campaign group has also criticised the move, saying it would make the route “almost unusable” for passengers who use stations along the southern area of the line, while local councillors have called for more investment in the line.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is considering ending the direct Dublin-Wexford services and instead requiring passengers to alight from intercity trains at Wicklow or Greystones and change to Dart carriages.

The measure is still subject to public consultation, which is expected to begin this summer.

The proposal comes despite reported growth in passenger numbers and national aims to make public transport a more attractive option for commuters. 

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne called on the NTA to be “more imaginative” in its planning. 

“If you look at the increases that we have seen along the Rosslare line, we’re seeing double digit percentage increases over the last number of years from a number of the train stations in Co Wexford,” Byrne said.

“If we are to look at trying to get drivers who are stuck on the M11 coming up into Dublin, if we are to give them a realistic alternative, then by providing a regular, efficient rail service down along the east coast, that would make far more sense,” he said.

“I just think that the NTA are being very short-sighted on this,” the senator said.

The argument that I’ve been putting to the NTA is let’s be more imaginative. Why just have a single line? Why not look at investing in a number of lines along that route in the same way as the lines to the south and west going into Heuston Station have been increased?

“I entirely appreciate it’s a difficult line to address because a lot of it runs alongside the coast, but at present, the government is investing large sums of money to protect the line against marine erosion.

Local opposition

Two Wexford councillors who spoke to The Journal this morning have expressed disappointment over the proposal.

Councillor Lisa McDonald and Councillor Leonard Kelly both believe there should be more national investment in the train line running between Dublin and Wexford rather than a rolling back of services.

Both said they have observed increased demand in recent years for the train connecting Wexford to the capital.

“For me, this proposal that’s being pitched is a very Dublin-centric one. It sounds like it is trying to increase the capacity from Dublin to Wicklow as opposed to putting thought into improving services for the whole line,” Kelly said.

He said that requiring passengers to change trains along the line would be a “disincentive” to use the train and lead to people taking the bus instead or resorting to private cars.

“We should be looking at investing in faster and more lines from Wexford the whole way up instead of potentially weakening the usage that is currently there and that has been growing over the last number of years.” 

McDonald described it as “outlandish” and a “regressive step”.

“With working from home, a lot of people have come back to Wexford because of the quality of life that we offer. There should be a high speed train between Dublin and Wexford to service people living outside of Dublin, which is what we need,” she said.

“We need people not to be living in the capital city and to be living in the southeast and it should be encouraged by the NTA, rather than the other way around, so I call on the minister to directly intervene.”

McDonald added that there are third-level students who rely on the train to commute to the capital for college due to the high costs and limited supply of student accommodation. 

Both councillors believe that the addition of another track to the line should be explored, acknowledging that the location of the line along the sea poses a challenge for expansion but stating that the option should not be ignored. 

Rail expansion campaign group South East on Track has said it would welcome potential additional rail services but “campaign vigorously” against ending direct Wexford-Dublin trains.

“The facts of the matter are that this proposal will marginally improve services for Kilcoole and Wicklow, while making the service almost unusable for passengers at busier stations further south,” the group has said in a statement.

“In the mid-2000s, the Bray-Dublin Connolly journey time on the Wexford train was approximately 31 minutes, compared to the current 47 minutes on the DART in 2024 for the same journey. This shows a consistent pattern of downgrading the service for the South Eastern commuter and rail user,” it said.

Irish Rail

In a statement, a spokesperson for Irish Rail said that the ongoing Dart+ Programme is seeking to expand rail capacity in the Greater Dublin Area.

“Delivering additional frequency on the Rosslare to Dublin line has always been challenging in the context of a high frequency Dart service from Bray to Dublin, and this challenge will increase with improvements in Greystones DART frequency envisaged arising from DART+ Coastal South, an issue which a recently commenced Wicklow capacity study – which will seek to increase services and capacity to Wicklow – will also consider,” the spokesperson said.

They said that modelling for the Dart+ Programme found that to reach the absolute maximum capacity in the Greater Dublin Area and to facilitate increased services on the Rosslare line, Rosslare services would need to include an interchange to connect to Dart services.

“However, this is infrastructural modelling, and no decision has been made to alter services on the Rosslare line,” the spokesperson said.

“These will ultimately be operational timetabling decisions after Dart+ Coastal South is delivered, based on demand, and direct and a mix of direct / interchange services will remain options available to us.

“Any timetabling proposals are subject to public consultation should they at any time be proposed, as is the case with all timetable reviews, and the approval of the National Transport Authority. The Dart+ Coastal South project will commence public consultation this summer.”

The Journal has also contacted the National Transport Authority for comment.