THERE’S GOOD NEWS today for rail commuters living around the Dublin commuter belt.

The European Commission has approved a grant of €11 million for 33 new Iarnród Éireann railcars on the Athlone-Portlaoise-Dublin commuter belt.

The new railcars will replace 25 existing older trains and will help to relieve transport bottlenecks as well as allow for more passengers to travel in the region. The money, which comes from the European Regional Development Fund, is part of a bigger programme to upgrade the Iarnród Éireann fleet by buying 183 diesel Intercity railcars.

“Connecting our towns and cities is a vital part of reinforcing growth in Europe’s regions,” said Johannes Hahn, the Commissioner for Regional Policy.

Safe and reliable transport infrastructure is fundamental, not only for the smooth operation of the Union’s internal market, but also for the economic and social wellbeing of EU citizens.

Read: Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport up 2 per cent >

Read: Here’s how many people travelled on Ireland’s rail network in 2012 >

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