§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps Northern Ireland Railways are proposing to take to improve the punctuality of the Enterprise train service between Belfast and Dublin. [H L1566]
§ Lord Williams of MostynNorthern Ireland Railways advise that they continue to meet Iarnrod Eireann to resolve engineering issues that are impacting on punctuality of the Enterprise Service. Engineers have closely examined the performance of the locomotives over a two and a half year period. On 167WA the basis of this assessment Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnrod Eireann have agreed jointly to approach the suppliers of the locomotives with a view to having this unacceptable performance addressed.
Work continues on the track to make good deficiencies which cause temporary speed restrictions to be introduced. At present there are three such restrictions on the Northern Ireland section of the Belfast to Dublin line.
The volume of rail traffic on the approaches to Connolly Station in Dublin continues to cause delays for the Enterprise Service. Northern Ireland Railways are continuing to make representations to Iarnrod Eireann about this problem.