Railway Procurement Agency
Encyclopedia
Railway Procurement Agency is a State Agency of the Department of Transport
in the Republic of Ireland
charged with the development of light rail
way and metro
infrastructure. It was established in December 2001 under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001.
Many of the staff of the agency came from the Light Rail Project Office of Córas Iompair Éireann
(CIÉ), which dissolved upon the RPA's inception. The agency operates completely independently of CIÉ.
The RPA's main role is overseeing the operation of the Luas
system, along with the planning of new Luas and Metro
lines for Dublin as laid out under the Irish Governments Transport 21
investment programme.
The operation of the Luas is contracted out to Veolia, and the RPA are responsible for monitoring their performance.
The agency has no role in the mainline railway system, which is operated by Iarnród Éireann
(a subsidiary of CIÉ).
The RPA are also in charge of developing an integrated ticketing
system for all public transport modes in Dublin. This is currently due to commence trials in late 2011.
Department of Transport (Ireland)
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for transport policy and overseeing transport services and infrastructure. The Department is led by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport who is assisted by two Ministers of State...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
charged with the development of light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
way and metro
Dublin Metro
The Dublin Metro is a proposed metro system for the city of Dublin. The first two lines were set out in the Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan: they are known as Metro North and Metro West...
infrastructure. It was established in December 2001 under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001.
Many of the staff of the agency came from the Light Rail Project Office of Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
(CIÉ), which dissolved upon the RPA's inception. The agency operates completely independently of CIÉ.
The RPA's main role is overseeing the operation of the Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
system, along with the planning of new Luas and Metro
Dublin Metro
The Dublin Metro is a proposed metro system for the city of Dublin. The first two lines were set out in the Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan: they are known as Metro North and Metro West...
lines for Dublin as laid out under the Irish Governments Transport 21
Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
investment programme.
The operation of the Luas is contracted out to Veolia, and the RPA are responsible for monitoring their performance.
The agency has no role in the mainline railway system, which is operated by Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
(a subsidiary of CIÉ).
The RPA are also in charge of developing an integrated ticketing
Integrated ticketing
Integrated ticketing allows a person to make a journey that involves transfers within or between different transport modes with a single ticket that is valid for the complete journey, modes being buses, trains, subways, ferries, etc...
system for all public transport modes in Dublin. This is currently due to commence trials in late 2011.
Transport 21 Initiatives
The RPA will have be crucial role in implementing key rail elements of the Irish government initiative, Transport 21. It will be responsible for the planning, coordination and procurement through conventional means, and through Public Private Partnership, where necessary, of the following projects:- Dublin MetroDublin MetroThe Dublin Metro is a proposed metro system for the city of Dublin. The first two lines were set out in the Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan: they are known as Metro North and Metro West...
, consisting of Metro North and Metro West - Connolly Station to Point Depot extension - Red Line
- Belgard to CitywestCitywestCitywest is a business park and golf resort in the Saggart area, just north and northwest of Saggart village in South Dublin. The nearest major town is Tallaght. The business park has developed a modest residential population in recent years...
extension - Red Line - Stephen's Green to O'Connell StreetO'Connell StreetO'Connell Street is Dublin's main thoroughfare. It measures 49 m in width at its southern end, 46 m at the north, and is 500 m in length...
extension - Green Line - SandyfordSandyfordSandyford is a suburb of Dublin, located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. A major part of Sandyford today is composed of the Sandyford Industrial Estate and related developments.- Location and access :...
to Cherrywood/Brides Glen extension - Green Line. - The RPA is also responsible for planning new Luas lines to Lucan and Liffey Junction planned, along with a second green line extension to Bray, and a short section of Luas to join the Red and Green lines.