Plans to end CIE's position as the State's sole railway operator were announced by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, yesterday.
Under legislation to be enacted by next October, a new railway agency, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), is to be established.
It will funnel private funds into the development of new railways and will have power to acquire land by compulsory purchase.
The agency will have full authority for the development of the £4.3 billion rail system for Dublin, including Metro and future extensions of the Luas light rail system.
???????????E is already the lead agency in the procurement o for the Tallaght and Sandyford lines. But according to Mrs O'Rourke, when these are built, the new agency will award franchises for their operation.
In addition, the RPA is to be responsible for the expansion of conventional heavy rail and the assessment of new railway proposals including lines to Navan, Co Meath, and to Dublin Airport.
The starting point for the new agency is to be the Dublin Light Rail Project Office (LRPO), which is to be made independent of CIE by a revision of the Dublin Transport Light Rail Act 1996.
New legislation creating the RPA will allow the LRPO to evolve from its current role of light rail project team office to a rail infrastructure procurement body, according to Ms O'Rourke.
It will allow private sector participation in design, construction, operation and financing of new railways. CIE, its subsidiaries or any other company would be able to apply for franchises.
Dart services for Greystones and Malahide are to be increased from this morning. There will be 23 Darts from Malahide each weekday between 6.28 a.m. and 23.30 p.m. The first Dart to Malahide leaves Connolly Station at 5.50 a.m. on weekdays and the last at 22.58 p.m. from Tara Street.
There will be 21 Darts each weekday from Greystones between 6.14 a.m. and 23.05 p.m. To Greystones the first Dart will be at 8.49 a.m. from Tara Street, while the last Dart will be at 23.21 p.m. from Tara Street.