Fighting for Commuters

Ahead of the re-opening of the Belfast to Dublin rail line on November 16th, I conducted a survey of Drogheda and east Meath commuters which revealed major concerns and issues that must be addressed in the short term if Irish Rail are to retain their customers.

The main findings of my survey reveal that CIE customers want key areas improved; namely the need for additional evening express services, the requirement for a seat – something they get on the bus at present – and the overall level of customer service from cleanliness to being informed of delays to becoming a more customer-centred company in the true sense of the term.

A recurring theme throughout this survey is that rail- commuting for too long has been stressful; whether that stress comes from struggling to find parking spaces or rushing on and off platforms or being forced to stand half way to and from Drogheda. This quality of life issue needs to be tackled if Iarnród Éireann are to retain their customers.

I must, however, put on record my thanks to Drogheda Station Master Des Howard and the staff in Drogheda Train Station who have been both courteous and helpful during what has been a three-month major headache for them as much as the commuters. They can only work with what they have got. CIE chiefs need to sit down and review the entire commuting structure for the north east.

As a commuter to Dublin myself, I can empathise with the findings in this survey and I will be forwarding my survey document to CIE senior management and the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.  These are the people that can make the key decisions to improve the rail service and the quality of life of thousands of north-east commuters.

In conclusion, I am calling for:

(1) A complete overhaul of the timetable. The current stagnation of the timetable is no longer acceptable in 2009.  Changes to the timetable are needed to take account of demand and passenger convenience. For example, we need at least two new evening express train services from Dublin to Laytown and Drogheda.

(2) A revisiting of the pricing structure which sees Drogheda and Laytown customers forced to pay more than Balbriggan customers even though they share the same train whereas Bray customers get the Dublin rate.  Alternatively, if Louth and Meath commuters are forced to pay this higher price, they should get a superior service e.g. let the DART service the line up to Balbriggan Station and have the Commuter Train’s first stop at Gormanston/Laytown.

(3) Strict standards to be put in place regarding late trains and informing customers of when late trains are due.

(4) Increased capacity so that more seats are available. Irish Rail need to investigate the European model of having longer carriages for the platform to guarantee a seat to fare paying customers.

(5) Opening up of new points of entrance/exit from the platform in Drogheda, instead of people crushing through a single door in the evenings.

Finally, this crisis has revealed the complete lack of a public transport option to and from Drogheda train station. People have no option but to drive there. This has to change.

Roads

A number of people have been in contact with me in relation to the poor state of their roads after the heavy rainfall and frost. I have gotten a number of these fixed so far and this is an ongoing work in progress. The roads in County Louth are prioritised as National Primary, National Secondary, Local Primary, Local Secondary and Local Tertiary. A problem has been that a number of calls I have received have been about Local Tertiary roads which as you see are the fifth on the priority list of the five types of roads. I have continued to lobby and some of these have been done but many more need to be done in the New Year.

Since I was elected in June to Louth County Council, I have been in regular contact with the Louth County Council Area Engineer for south Louth. But with the nature of our weather, potholes and poor road conditions will always occur and as soon as any appear, please ring, text or email me at 01-6184374, 087-7535653 or at james.carroll@oireachtas.ie.

New Theatre in Drogheda opens

As a new member of the Louth Leader Partnership Board, we delivered €100,000 funding for new Tommy Leddy Theatre in Drogheda in August. Their official opening was on 23rd September at the Concert Hall and Theatre which is built beside the Sound Shop near the new Tesco on the Donore Road. This funding was the vital final step in realising this and to be part of this is how I see politics working for our community. This will be a fantastic resource for the entire North-East. For our local talent to have a 900 seater theatre for them will be invaluable. I would like to thank Maureen Ward, the Louth Leader Rural Development manager and her team for their help on this project. This was my highlight in my five months on Louth County Council.

Protecting Monasterboice’s heritage

‘Six different options for the future of Monasterboice Graveyard’s Crosses’

At a recent County Council meeting, we got presented with the 6 different options for Monasterboice’s Crosses from the Report commissioned by the Department of Environment, OPW and Louth County Council.  They are (1)Railings, (2)Roof Covering, (3)Protective Enclosure of glazed roof and walls, (4)Paint a protective chemical coating onto the Crosses, (5)Retention of crosses in-situ and have replicas placed indoor for viewing and (6) Relocation to indoor facility and insert replica replacements (the Report’s preference).  I want to hear your feedback on this and I will compile them all so that I am representing our area’s views.  Please call, text, email or write to me for further information or to support whichever option you prefer.