Editing National Development Plan (section)

===Rail network===
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2016}}
{{See also|Rail transport in Ireland}}
[[Image:National Development Plan sign.jpg|thumb|right|A National Development Plan sign for [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit]] seen in [[Dublin Connolly railway station]]. This sign was removed in 2011]]
Dublin suburban routes benefited from large amounts of new [[rolling stock]], in the form of suburban [[railcar]]s. These operate north to [[Dundalk]], northwest to [[Maynooth]], southwest to [[Portlaoise]] and south to [[Gorey]]. The electrified section of the north–south route through Dublin had extra [[Multiple unit|EMU]]s brought into service. Dublin also saw the opening of a new tram system, the [[Luas]] in 2004.

Major projects undertaken were the upgrade of [[Heuston Station]] in Dublin to nine [[Railway platform|platform]]s and the new railcar servicing depot in Drogheda. Many other stations, particularly the Dublin suburban stations, were upgraded and modernised, with lifts for example on new footbridges. Other measures to improve disabled access were implemented, and [[park and ride]] facilities were developed.

InterCity travel benefited from new suburban railcars freeing up InterCity rolling stock previously in use. 67 new locomotive-hauled InterCity carriages were introduced in 2006. Over 100 "regional railcars" were ordered, in the form DMUs currently in use on peripheral services that are not commuter-only. Services were increased on routes such as that from [[Limerick]] to [[Ennis]].

Planned developments included enhancing suburban rail in [[Cork (city)|Cork]], where a section of rail was reopened to [[Midleton]], east of the city. Other projects under discussion, some or all of which are unlikely to be undertaken, include:
*A railway line from Dublin to [[Navan]].
*Developing a rail link to [[Dublin Airport]] (possibly as an underground Metro link).
*Opening a new city centre railway terminus for Sligo and western commuter services at [[Spencer Dock]].
*Creating the [[DART Underground]] tunnel south from the [[Docklands railway station]] in [[Spencer Dock]] to [[Pearse Station]] and west to [[Heuston Station]].
*Reopening a [[Western Railway Corridor]] from [[Limerick]] to [[Sligo]]. The section from Ennis to Athenry was reopened in 2010, with the sections from Athenry to Tuam, as well as preserving right of way north of Tuam, cancelled indefinitely in 2011.
* Reopening of Limerick-Tralee and Athlone-Mullingar railway lines.