[Article] CIE says gridlock costs €69m a year

Victor

http://www.rte.ie/business/2004/0617/cie.html

CIE says gridlock costs €69m a year
June 17, 2004 14:37

CIE's annual report shows that the group recorded a deficit of €4m last year, mainly because of a once-off restructuring cost of €20m at Iarnrod Eireann. This figure includes grants of €262.5m from the State for providing public transport services.

CIE also received Exchequer funding of €280.6m for capital spending. Pay costs increased by €14.5m, mainly because of pay rises under Sustaining Progress.

Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann both returned a surplus but the Iarnrod Eireann charge left it with a deficit of €19.4m. Bus Eireann reported a surplus of €1.5m last year, following losses of €9.4m in 2002, while Dublin Bus's surplus more than doubled to €7.3m.

CIE says more people are now using public transport than at any time over the past 25 years, but is says traffic congestion is costing the two bus companies €68.6m a year. It says average daily bus speeds are now down to 12km per hour, compared with an international average of 23km per hour.

Passenger numbers at Dublin Bus rose by 2% to 149 million, while Iarnrod Eireann carried a record 35.5 million people.

Dublin Bus's annual report, also released today, shows that it received a state subvention of €53.8m, down from €56m in 2002. It says this is one of the lowest levels of public service obligation payments made to a bus operator in Europe.

Dublin Bus said revenue growth remained strong despite traffic congestion costing the company an estimated €49m a year due to large infrastructural works in the city including the Luas, Port Tunnel and the O'Connell St. regeneration.

http://www.rte.ie/business/2004/0617/aerrianta.html

Public transport use highest in 25 years
17 June 2004 16:19

More people are now using public transport than at any time over the past 25 years according to the CIÉ Annual Report for 2003, published today.

The report also shows Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and the CIÉ holding company all returning a surplus for 2003, while a one off restructuring cost of €20m at Iarnród Éireann has left a deficit of €4m for the CIE Group as a whole.

Growth in 2003 was most buoyant on rail services where 35.5 million passenger journeys were made on Iarnród Éireann's InterCity, DART and commuter services.

This compares to a baseline 27 million rail passengers before the investment programmes made under EU structural funding and the Government's National Development Plan 2000-2006.

And, as the investment progresses, Iarnród Éireann has forecast that passenger numbers will grow to over 44 million by 2007.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/3416132?view=Eircomnet

Public transport use at 25-year high - CIÉ
From:ireland.com
Thursday, 17th June, 2004

More people are using public transport than at anytime over the last 25 years, according to CIÉ's annual report published today.

Passenger numbers at Bus Átha Cliath rose 2.3 per cent to 149 million passengers over 2002 and Bus Éireann carried over 50 million passengers last year.

However, urban gridlock is costing both bus companies €68.6 million a year. According to the report average day-long city bus speeds are as low as 12 kph. compared to an international average of 23 kph.

The report shows that Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and the CIÉ holding company all returned a surplus for 2003, but a one-off restructuring cost of €20 million for Iarnród Éireann has left the CIÉ group with a deficit of €4 million.

Bus Átha Cliath returned a surplus of €7.4 million while Bus Éireann recorded a turnaround from losses of €9.4 million in 2002 to profits of €1.5 million in 2003.

Iarnród Éireann made an operating surplus of €7 million however, when off set against restructuring costs an overall deficit of €19.4 million was recorded.

The report also shows that CIÉ group received exchequer funding of €280.6 million for capital expenditure and also €1.2 million in revenue support grants.

Payroll costs also increased by €14.5 million due mainly to pay awards under the programme for sustaining prosperity and fairness.

Capt'n Midnight

If the average bus speed is half the international average then wouldn't they need TWICE as many buses to provide an average service.

BTW: how many QBC's could you fund for €68M ?