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#1 ·
Dublin Plans EUR 20 Billion Transport Plan

EUR 20 billion plan for new rail and road links
Liam Reid
5 May 2005
Irish Times

The Government is finalising details of a €20 billion, 10-year transport plan that will include a metro to Dublin airport and an underground rail link between Heuston Station and the Dublin Docklands.

The plan, which is expected to be brought to Cabinet next month, will include a new "western corridor" linking Cork by dual carriageway to Sligo via Limerick and Galway.

Detailed planning on both rail projects is expected to get under way almost immediately, once a decision is made by Cabinet, although both are not expected to go into construction phase at the same time.

Officials from the Department of Transport and the Department of Finance are currently discussing the final details of the plan, including the total costs, budget of the plan, and the phasing of the major construction projects.

There is general agreement on the broad outline of the plan within the Cabinet subcommittee on transport, which includes the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, and the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen.

The committee has held a number of discussions on the plan since March, when Mr Cullen presented it to the committee. It is expected to have further discussions before the final plan, is agreed.

Mr Cullen, who will bring the plan to Cabinet, is understood to favour a metro route that would extend from Dublin city centre to the airport and on to Swords.

The final decision on the route and extent of the metro will depend on the final budget for the project to be agreed with the Department of Finance over the coming weeks.

The Rail Procurement Agency has provided estimates ranging from €2 billion to nearly €5 billion for the project. The €1.2 billion "interconnector" is expected to be built by 2012 and would link a new station at Spencer Dock to Heuston station, with stations at St Stephen's Green and Christchurch. Spencer Dock will in turn link back to Connolly station.

Under the plans by Iarnród Éireann, double-decker trains would be able to use the line, travelling directly from Drogheda through to Kildare. It would also free up capacity on northern routes allowing for increased commuter services, with the extension of the Dart line to Maynooth.

Iarnród Éireann has claimed that unless the interconnector is built, commuter rail services in Dublin will be seriously overcrowded from 2012, with projected population increases of 300,000 in the region.

The cost of the whole plan is believed to be in the region of €20 billion, although this could be further increased, if parts of the plan are extended beyond 2015, as is currently being proposed by the Department of Transport.

The plan is to be divided in two sections, one for Dublin and another for the rest of the country.

The completion of all motorways and dual carriageways between Dublin and the main Irish cities, which has already been committed to, will also be included in the plan.

The main road project is the western corridor dual carriageway linking Cork to Limerick, Galway and Sligo.

Other projects expected to be included in the plan will be commuter rail links for the Cork area, a new commuter line for Dunboyne, Co Meath, upgrade programmes for local and inter-regional roads around the country, bus and "green corridors", and park and ride facilities on the outskirts of major cities.
 
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#7 ·
Time to fast-track commuter rail services
Opinion - Garret FitzGerald
2 July 2005
Irish Times

Our cities all have commuting problems but, given that the population of greater Dublin is about 4 times that of greater Cork, and that our other cities have far smaller populations, it is fair to say that much of the greater share of our commuter problems arises in our capital city.

Some of these difficulties derive from the layout of Dublin, which has only one north-south route across the city centre, that between the Bank of Ireland and Trinity College. Moreover, access from both northern and southern suburbs is somewhat restricted because of the need in both cases to cross a river and canal.

Even more fundamental, however, is the fact that Dublin is an extraordinarily low-density city. As little as one kilometre in almost any direction from O'Connell Bridge, houses with gardens are the principal form of residential accommodation.

This means that the city has not lent itself to rail mass transit, the economics of which are largely a function of high-density housing. The defunct Harcourt Street line apart, it was only along the coastline that rail commuter services came into existence - the economics of which were not helped by the fact that half of the hinterland of these two rail lines consisted of water.

Throughout the lifetime of our State Dublin has lacked any serious attempt at physical planning. Responding to public demand from a population half of whom are at most two generations away from rural life, successive governments have permitted very low-density housing with gardens in every direction around the city core, with the result that within the 100-plus square miles of continuous built-up areas the population density is a fraction of what is normal for a city of this or larger size.

Developers have been free to build housing for Dublin commuters in towns 50 or more miles from Dublin. And because of very high Dublin house prices, arising from exceptional economic growth, tens of thousands of commuters have felt it necessary to move to these distant towns - from which even those who go by train must daily spend 2� hours en route - and car commuters much more.

With oil prices already pushed to record levels by rapidly growing world demand, failure to address this perverse pattern of spatial development will impose heavy, possibly unbearable, costs upon future generations of residents of this region.

On the first anniversary of Luas and as the South Eastern Motorway is opened, I have to say that the solution to this problem is the creation of an efficient metro system within the Dublin city area, running underground in the city centre as metros do in cities of similar size elsewhere.

This situation was belatedly identified by the Government a couple of years ago, and a commitment to build such a system was announced by the Taoiseach at a press conference that I recall attending.

The development of such a system, offering easy access to the city centre, would stimulate higher-density development along these metro lines, and thus gradually reverse the present uneconomic pattern of housing development up to 50 miles from the capital. Unhappily there is every sign that, as one minister for transport has succeeded another, the Government, demoralised by its mishandling of the Luas project, has lost its nerve and seems to have lost the will to carry through its own metro plan.

While we await a recovery of governmental nerve on this issue, measures to deal with the immediate crisis of road congestion should include early completion of the extraordinarily slowly emerging bus-lane system; the introduction of a sufficient measure of competition in urban bus operations to limit the abuse of monopoly power by management or unions; and the introduction of an efficient road-pricing system to replace fuel tax.

The British government is preparing its population for such a road-pricing scheme, using GPS to track car movements: we should join them in this process. It would hugely reduce travel costs for rural dwellers, and it would tackle in the only possible effective way the problem of car congestion on urban roads.

In the absence of rational planning and the construction of a Dublin metro, three-fifths of the Dublin region's population growth is taking place outside Co Dublin, in the parts of the three neighbouring counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow that are nearest to the city. In these areas the population growth rate is running at an astonishing 3.5 per cent a year, as against 1 per cent a year in Dublin itself.

The transport solution to this outer suburban commuter problem lies with a series of radial rail services enabling all who live 10-30 miles of the city to have access to a commuter station within a few miles of their homes, from which the centre of Dublin could be reached by train in 30-45 minutes.

How near are we to such a situation? Closer, perhaps, than many imagine. The construction of adequate park-and-ride facilities at outer suburban stations is still grossly inadequate, of course, and in order to complete the network one old rail line would need to be reopened, that to Navan via Clonsilla and Dunshaughlin. There is, I believe, some danger that if, as has recently been suggested, this line is reopened, a false economy might lead to it not being extended as far as Navan. This would be very shortsighted.

The population of the part of Meath along this line is growing very rapidly and this part of Dublin's hinterland seems capable of taking a bigger population increase than can be easily provided for along the other existing four commuter rail lines.

True, the population of the towns along this Meath line is 35-40 per cent less than the population of those served by the Kildare and Maynooth lines, which respectively enjoy 38 and 27 trains a day each way.

But the population along the Meath line is growing much more rapidly than elsewhere, and it is hard to believe that by the time its reconstruction would be completed it would require fewer than 20-25 trains a day. And in terms of the social value offered by the diversion of so much traffic from road to rail, that volume of rail services would seem to justify fully the investment required.
 
#10 ·
Here is a map with the transports projects for Dublin.

I hope they finally start building the Metro or improving the DART system.

During the time I have been living there the problem of a Metro for the city was the prize. At this time the LUAS system was unfinished and nobody knew the final result.

Nowadays, Dublin must think seriously in a public transport network not only in unconnected lines but in a whole plan.
 
#11 ·
The LUAS has improved Dublin public transport a lot!
Let's see about the metro...
:wink2:
 
#12 ·
bitxofo said:
The LUAS has improved Dublin public transport a lot!
Let's see about the metro...
:wink2:
LUAS has improved public transport in Dublin because before the only way to move inside the city it was the bus network. DART system is good only for moving in certain areas, not the whole city.

I have suffered, sorry used the bus during more than one year and a half and it was unsiutable for a city like Dublin (timetables not respected, bad frecuency, old buses...)
 
#14 ·
As you can see on the previous map, the future network includes what nowadays is part of the LUAS system.

The south branch of LUAS is in exclusive right of way because it was the old way of the Harcourt railway line closed in the 50's. From this point (Harcourt station) the line should be uderground to cross the city center. In the area called Cabra the metro is again over ground. Here still you can find the old railway path from the Broadstone station, so the only work to do should be to wide it, repair the walls in both sides and to take out all the vegetation.

The proposed metro should have a "circula" way in the west side of Dublin. As you can see in the map the metro will link new developing areas, so new houses and neighbourhoods could be created folloowing the metro way.
 
#15 ·
Stephen's Green to be a 'key transport hub'.
2 November 2005
Irish Times

Greater Dublin Area: Twice as many public passengers are envisaged, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor.

A "huge increase" in public transport capacity in the Greater Dublin Area has been pledged by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, following implementation over the next 10 years of Luas extensions, two metro lines and an underground rail link in the city centre.

St Stephen's Green would become be a key transport hub, enabling transfer between Luas, metro and suburban rail.

In effect, Mr Cullen said, "it will be to Dublin what Grand Central is to New York - integrating all services at a central city location".

The Government's Transport 21 plan, unveiled yesterday, anticipates the number of public transport passengers in Dublin almost to double, from 200 million a year at present to 375 million a year in 2015, when all the elements of the programme are in place.

These include:

A signalling project to relieve congestion on the city centre rail network, principally around Connolly Station, to increase the number of trains in each direction from 12 to 16.

Upgrading the Heuston-Kildare line, as planned by Iarnród Éireann, to separate mainline and commuter trains and provide a service to places like Parkwest and Adamstown.

Reopening the railway line to Navan, Co Meath, on a phased basis, initially with a spur off the existing Maynooth line as far as Dunboyne, with a new terminal at Spencer Dock in the Docklands.

A rail interconnector running underground from Heuston station to Spencer Dock, via St Stephen's Green and Pearse Station, to cater for a major expansion of suburban commuter services.

Electrification of the northern, Kildare and Maynooth commuter lines as far as Balbriggan, Hazelhatch and Maynooth (respectively) to make them compatible with Dart and Dart-type trains.

Joining the two Luas lines in the city centre, as originally planned, and extending the Sandyford line northwards via Broadstone to connect with the Maynooth line at Liffey Junction.

Extending the Tallaght Luas line to the Docklands, building a spur to serve Citywest and extending the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood and later to Bray, Co Wicklow, to connect with the Dart line.

A metro line from St Stephen's Green to Swords, via Glasnevin, Dublin City University, Ballymun and Dublin airport, enabling the airport's users to reach the city centre in 17 minutes.

A new Luas line from Lucan to the city centre, running via Liffey Valley, where it would connect with a proposed orbital metro line linking Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown.

In his speech at yesterday's launch, the Minister emphasised that buses would continue to play a "crucial role" in Dublin's public transport system, particularly in the short to medium term, "whilst the other infrastructure is being put in place".

He said the Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) network would be "at least doubled" over the 10- year period, but there would also be a greater focus on developing orbital, feeder and local services and integrating bus and rail services in the city.

"I have asked Dublin Bus to review their network in light of the planned investment and to examine the most effective means of expanding bus services in the short, medium and long term and they are to report to me early in the new year, " Mr Cullen said. The transport plan would increase total bus capacity to cater for an extra 80,000 passenger journeys by 2015. However, the Minister said he was conscious that there was an "immediate need" for 20 additional buses and he would sanction these in the coming weeks.

More park-and-ride facilities are to be provided, with a particular focus on rail-based public transport, as well as better interchange facilities between bus and rail.

Integrated ticketing and passenger information will also be introduced on a phased basis.

The only major road project targeted for completion in the 10- year period is the major upgrade of the M50, under which the motorway junctions will be rebuilt and the number of lanes increased from four to six, at an estimated cost of €1 billion.

Feasibility and planning work will be undertaken on an eastern bypass motorway, linking the Port Tunnel with the southern leg of the M50, as well as an outer orbital road from Drogheda, Co Louth, via Navan, Co Meath, and south to Naas, Co Kildare, with a possible extension to Wicklow.
 
#16 ·
Minister says €34bn plan to be completed by 2015.
Tim O'Brien
2 November 2005
Irish Times

Transport timetable: An underground in Dublin city centre, a new orbital metro and seven new light rail schemes were among the investments outlined in the Government's €34 billion transport plan unveiled yesterday.

The 10-year plan which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said would provide a world-class 21st-century transport system, envisages a spend of €9.4 million every day between 2006 and 2015.

In the largest overhaul and expansion of public transport in the capital to date, the plan provides for four lines on the Kildare to Heuston station route; an underground rail interconnector linking Heuston, Pearse and Connolly stations via an interchange with the proposed metro system at St Stephen's Green.

The metro system involves a northern route from St Stephen's Green via O'Connell Street, Ballymun and Dublin airport to Swords, and an orbital route from Ballymun via Abbotstown, Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley and Clondalkin to Tallaght.

Suburban rail services are to be electrified with the extension of Dart services to Balbriggan, Hazelhatch and Maynooth. A new station in the Docklands will ease congestion in the city centre. There is to be a new rail service to Dunboyne in the short term and ultimately to Navan.

New Luas projects will serve the Docklands, Citywest, Cherrywood, Bray, Lucan and the proposed Dublin Institute of Technology campus at Grangegorman. A cross-city line will link the existing two Luas lines.

The number of bus passengers should increase by 80,000 each day by 2015 while the number of quality bus corridors will at least double. A network of park-and-ride sites will be provided on the main approach roads to the city.

In all, the strategic transport plan envisages the number of public transport users rising from the current level of about 200 million a year to 375 million a year.

The plan will also see the completion of the current National Roads Programme with priority given to the inter-urban motorways between Dublin and the regional cities and the Border.

A western "Atlantic road corridor" linking Co Donegal with Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Waterford is also included.

At a press briefing yesterday, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said the roads programme would be completed by 2013.

The reopening of the western railway line will happen in phases, the first between Ennis, Co Clare, and Athenry, Co Galway; a second phase between Athenry and Tuam, Co Galway, and a third between Tuam and Claremorris, Co Mayo. The remaining section between Claremorris and Coolooney is to be fenced and protected pending a decision on its reopening at a later date.

Commuter services will also be provided between Athenry and Galway city.

In Cork, additional commuter railway stations are proposed for Blarney, Dunkettle and Kilbarry while the Midleton line is to be reopened.

Passenger rail services are also to be improved with new trains providing an hourly service between Dublin and Cork. There will be hourly peak services between Dublin-Galway and Dublin- Limerick, reducing to one service every two hours at off peak.

There will be trains every two hours from Dublin to Sligo, Dublin to Tralee and Dublin to Waterford. Four trains a day will operate from Dublin to Westport and Ballina, Co Mayo, and Rosslare, Co Wexford.

Mr Cullen laid out an ambitious timetable for the improvements. He said linking the two existing Luas lines in Dublin city centre would be completed by 2008 as would the extensions to the Docklands and Citywest, the latter subject to development contributions.

The Docklands rail station and the spur to Dunboyne are to open by 2009 when Athenry to Galway commuter services will begin. By 2010, phase one of the orbital metro will be open between Tallaght and Clondalkin and the inter-urban motorways will be completed. By 2011 the metro will be completed to Lucan and the western rail corridor will be completed as far as Tuam.

The metro to Swords via the airport is to be completed by 2012 and will be joined by the orbital metro at Ballymun by 2012. The interconnector between Heuston and Connolly stations will be completed by 2015 as will the reopening of the Navan line, the electrification of suburban routes around Dublin and the Luas extension to Bray.
 
#17 ·
Down the line . . . to reopen the western rail corridor
2 November 2005
Irish Independent

ANOTHER ambitious commitment is to tackle the vexed issue of the Western Rail Corridor.

Once again there are no immediate solutions. The plan is to be undertaken in stages over a 10-year period.

It will reinstate the line between Ennis and Claremorris and will preserve the remaining alignment as far as Collooney. It says the "Transport 21" plan will complete the implementation of the railway safety programme.

It promises to complete the renewal of the railway infrastructure in line with safety priorities and to substantially improve safety management systems.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen said: "We will [deliver] 187 carriages and railcars between 2005 and 2008. This is in addition to the 36 railcars which will be coming into service before the end of the year on the Dublin suburban and Sligo services."

The 187 vehicles, he said, would permit a phased improvement of service frequencies, with:

* A service each hour on the Dublin-Cork route;

* A service every hour at peak and every two hours off-peak on the Galway and Limerick routes;

* Services every two hours on the Sligo, Tralee and Waterford routes;

* At least four services a day on other intercity routes including Westport, Ballina and Rosslare.

Also planned is the introduction of a new commuter rail service from Athenry to Galway and the upgrading of the suburban rail service in Cork. This will involve re-opening the Midleton line and providing three new stations on the Mallow/Cork City/ Cobh line at Blarney, Dunkettle and Kilbarry.

It also promises to upgrade urban bus services in the provincial cities and support the further development of Quality Bus Corridors and Green Routes, and park and ride in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It also says it will upgrade regional and local bus services.

In parallel with the investment programme, it commits itself to putting the Rural Transport Initiative on a permanent footing from the end of the pilot phase in 2006.

This year, the Government will spend €4.5million on the Rural Transport Initiative.

It says the cash funding available for this "successful and innovative" programme will be doubled in 2007 "and then increased steadily, ultimately to a cash level about four times what it is this year"

The Government says it will also complete the feasibility study of the Shannon rail link to Limerick and Galway.
 
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