The National Transport Authority has confirmed to me that refurbished carriages will now not be ordered to increase capacity on trains serving Sallins/Hazelhatch and Maynooth and Leixlip.

It has now emerged that refurbished carriages are not a financially viable option to expand the rail fleet. This now leaves commuters stuck. The only short term option appeared to be these refurbished carriages which would have come as great relief to those in Maynooth, Kilcock, Sallins and Hazelhatch.  

The Minister has this hand off approach which is clearly not working. We need to be creative and assess what carriages will work for this route. The DART for example has much more standing room and space on board. Perhaps this is an option. What is needed is a Minister who will come at the problem with innovative ideas. At present he does not seem to be doing anything.

I am calling for an emergency debate in the Dáil and immediate intervention from the Taoiseach. Something needs to be done before there is a tragedy due to overcrowding on the Kildare rail line.