Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan T.D. will raise concerns over the new national rail timetable at the Dail Transport committee and with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey.

Deputy Broughan said, "A number of commuters have contacted me with their concerns over the new Irish Rail timetable which came into effect at the end of November. Commuters believe there has been a significant service reduction on a number of lines including Drogheda to Dublin, Dublin to Limerick and the DART line.

"An analysis of the new timetable by Rail Users Ireland reports slower journey times on many routes including a 62 minute journey time from Nenagh to Limerick, a journey which only took around 40 minutes in the 1970s. There has also been a 33% reduction in peak frequency on the DART, according to Rail Users Ireland.

"In my own constituency it was disappointing to see that when the long promised new Clongriffin rail station in the North Fringe opens early next year there will be at best only two trains an hour through the new station.

"There are clearly several positive developments in the new timetable including the early morning services between Galway, Westport, Waterford and Longford to Dublin.

"Critically, Irish Rail has also had its funding significantly reduced between 2008 and 2009 from €181.1 million to €175.78 million with perhaps further cuts to come in Budget 2010. However, commuters rightly believe that increased journey times and service reductions will discourage more people from using the rail network.

"I intend to raise this issue as a matter of priority with Minister Noel Dempsey during Transport PQs in Dail Eireann next week. I have now also asked the Dail Transport Committee to invite Irish Rail CEO Mr. Dick Fearn and his staff into the Dail Transport Committee to address the serious concerns of rail users across Ireland."