4th February 2002

PRESS RELEASE

DART CHAOS ‘COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED’ - GREEN PARTY

The Green Party has criticised senior management of the DART suburban rail service for the severe disruption on Friday 1st February due to flooding at Merrion Gates.

“Erosion at Merrion Strand had left the DART line vulnerable to high tides” stated Councillor Ciarán Cuffe. “The Green Party feels that this problem could have been foreseen. If CIE had built a low wall it could have avoided the chaos on the DART that resulted last Friday.

“In recent years there had been significant changes in the sand banks around the Merrion Strand area that left this DART crossing completely exposed. What we now need is a programme of remedial works to ensure that the risk of this happening again is reduced.

“If we want people to use public transport it must be reliable and efficient.  Time after time the DART service is cancelled or delayed. We must improve the reliability of the DART. That means planning ahead to ensure that people are not left waiting for their train.

“Climate Change means that extreme weather events such as this will become more frequent. We have to prepare ourselves in advance to avoid a high tide causing chaos.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe     087 265 2075 or 618 3082