Jacobs has been appointed as a multi-disciplinary consultant to Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) as it seeks to expand and modernise an 87-mile stretch of railway serving the western region

Under the All Island Strategic Rail Review, Irish Rail has set an objective of improving capacity and passenger experience along the 87-mile route, which serves the region from Galway to Portarlington and provides onward connection to Dublin.

Jacobs will consult on the pre-feasibility, feasibility and preferred option selection project phases looking at additional track capacity, decarbonisation, increased speeds and higher service frequencies.

The framework agreement is for a four-year period with option to extend for a further four years.

“This major improvement project aims to significantly enhance capacity, reduce journey times and increase service frequency for passengers, improving connectivity for communities and businesses," said Keith Lawson, executive vice president of Jacobs.

"The complexity of this program necessitates an integrated approach encompassing transport planning, stakeholder engagement, environmental considerations, urban development and more.

"The scale of our team in Ireland brings diverse capabilities to seamlessly integrate these solutions to support the country's evolving transport needs."

Jim Mead, chief executive of Iarnród Éireann, said: "At Iarnród Éireann we are delighted that a study is underway on these key infrastructure developments.

"We believe strongly that providing frequent and reliable rail services to more and more communities will greatly assist in reducing reliance on private cars and will go a long way to meeting Ireland’s climate action targets.”

Irish Rail's infrastructure investment programme is supported by the National Transport Authority and funded under Project Ireland 2040.

Jacobs generates approximately $12bn in annual revenue and employs almost 45,000 people in advanced manufacturing, cities & places, energy, environmental, life sciences, transportation and water.

The company has consulted on rail projects such as New York City's Grand Central Madison, the London Underground's Elizabeth Line, Malaysia's Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit, and Etihad Rail in the UAE.

(Pic: iStock)