The extension of Dublin's DART line to Malahide in north Co Dublin, and Greystones in north Co Wicklow, will not be operational for another year at the earliest, Iarnrod Eireann has confirmed.
The extension was first announced in the run-up to the June 1995 Wicklow by-election by the Taoiseach at the time, Mr John Bruton, and the minister for transport, Mr Michael Lowry.
Engineering work began in 1997 and, according to Mr Barry Kenny, spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann, all significant engineering work has now been completed, including work on the tunnelled sections of the five-mile line between Bray and Greystones.
It had originally been hoped that tests would have been carried out on the electrification stage of the project by this summer, with some trains running by October. However, some 10 new DART carriages required for the service are not now expected to be ready for delivery from Spain until the end of summer 1999.
Despite this, Mr Kenny said, it was hoped a provisional service, at least on the Greystones line, could be under way by next March.
The electrification of the Greystones line is expected to bring commuters from a five-mile area around Greystones, covering the villages of Delgany, Kilcoole, Newtownmountkennedy and New castle into the DART system.
While north Wicklow commuters may be disappointed at the delay, especially in the light of ongoing road works at the Wyattville interchange and the possible start of an £18.5 million road-widening scheme between the Glen of the Downs and Kilmacanogue, the "extra time" has been welcomed by local public representatives.
Commenting on the scheme, Mr George Jones, a member of Greystones Town Commission and Wicklow County Council, said the parking aspect at Greystones had still to be resolved.
"We are facing some 400 cars being parked in the town all day while commuters use the DART to get to work. The extra time can be used to get a park-and-ride facility in place to the south of the town and an agreement with the owner of a private car-park adjacent to the station," he said.
