Sir , - I would like to offer some assurance to your correspondent, Mrs F.P. Grove-Annesley, who wrote of the negative image given to visitors by the lack of public transport service and information for foot passengers arriving off the 2.10 a.m. Stena HSS departure from Holyhead on Sundays as well as the condition of Dun Laoghaire and Heuston stations.
Both stations are currently being completely reconstructed as part of Iarnroid Eireann's major investment programme to provide bright, new, modern stations of a standard and quality which will do the nation proud and which will certainly enhance our tourist reputation. These modern facilities will be in place for next year's tourist season.
At present both stations are building sites and we hope that rail users will bear with us over the coming months in the confidence that a vastly improved service awaits.
The rail investment programme, with many projects being co-funded by the EU, will soon see a new Belfast Enterprise train service and the upgrading of much of our over-age track, as well as new trains, DART extensions and other station developments including a remodelled Connolly Station.
I fully accept your correspondent's criticism of the lack of train information (even if temporary) at Dun Laoghaire and this is being rectified. A state-of-the-art realtime information system is planned for the new Dun Laoghaire station, which will also feature a street-level, glassed-in concourse, with escalators and lifts linked to platforms as well as the ferry terminal.
With regard to port-rail station transfers from the 2.10 a.m. HSS, a privately operated minibus service as well as taxis are available as the small number of foot passengers would not justify a 6 a.m. start for DART on Sundays. In addition, midnight to 8 a.m. on Sundays is the only weekly time slot in which no trains are on the DART line and we use this to carry out essential engineering work.
We have spoken to Stena and they will raise with the OPW (the Dun Laoghaire port authority) the question of providing information on the minibus service.
With regard to the availability of catering facilities at Heuston, the cafeteria opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8.30 a.m. on Sundays. This reflects customer demand. However, on the Sunday referred to by your correspondent, staff opened 15 minutes early because there were people waiting.
In the new remodelled new Heuston every effort will be made to provide facilities as early and late as possible.
Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to apologise to Mrs Grove-Annesley and other Sunday morning HSS foot passengers for the bad station conditions which prevail at present. With regard to the lack of information and to the debris at Dun Laoghaire these problems are being attended to. - Yours, etc.,
Cyril Ferris,
Media and Public Relations Manager, Iarnroid Eireann, Dublin 1.