LUAS light rail construction updates

[Never give up]

Environmental Impact Rapport for Luas Broombridge (BXD)

http://www.dublinluasbroombridge.ie/...XD_EIS_NTS.pdf

[odlum833]

...

[odlum833]

Luas line BXD to be given final go ahead later today according to reports. Construction can begin immediately.



Map of scheme

http://www.rpa.ie/Maps/Luas%20Line%2...ish%200109.pdf


DART underground and Metro North expected to be delayed.

[Catmalojin]

And here's one of those reports:

Link-up of Luas lines only high-profile transport plan likely to get green light

DEAGLÁN de BRÉADÚN, Political Correspondent

Wed, Nov 09, 2011

THE LINK-UP between the two Luas rail lines in Dublin is the only one of three high-profile transport projects likely to survive as part of the Government’s reduced capital expenditure programme, according to political sources.

The postponement of the Metro North rail link has already been strongly signalled and the Dart underground between Connolly and Heuston railway stations is also expected to go on the long finger.

A Cabinet meeting yesterday signed off on what a Government spokesman described as “a prioritised, significant and robust capital programme, especially in the context of the current economic challenges we face”.

The spokesman would not go into detail but other sources have indicated the Luas link-up is likely to be part of the revised capital programme to be announced tomorrow.

The programme was brought to Cabinet by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, who will join Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore in announcing the details at a press conference in Government Buildings at noon.

Much attention will, however, be focused on Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, since the three projects in question come under his remit.

The fact that Metro North is a public-private partnership (PPP) militates against the prospect of proceeding with it at this stage.

The situation whereby the State is not in the financial markets at present means funding cannot be raised, a senior political source said.

At an estimated cost of up to €170 million, the Luas link-up is planned to run from St Stephen’s Green by Trinity College and up O’Connell Street before doubling back down Marlborough Street and across a new Liffey bridge.

It will connect the Green Line, which terminates at St Stephen’s Green, to the Red Line, which runs along Abbey Street, and also form part of a new line connecting Luas services with a suburban rail station at Broombridge near Cabra.

The Metro North rail link was designed to run from St Stephen’s Green, via Dublin airport, to Swords in north Dublin, using underground, surface and elevated tracks.

The plan envisages the route would be 16.5km long and have 14 stops, among them St Stephen’s Green, O’Connell Bridge, Parnell Square, Mater Hospital, Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue, Dublin City University, Ballymun, Dublin Airport and Swords.

The Dart Underground line is intended to run from Dublin Docklands to Inchicore. Approximately 7.6km in length, it would connect the Northern and Kildare lines, with underground stations located at Spencer Dock, Pearse Station, St Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston Station, as well as a new surface Dart station at Inchicore.

© 2011 The Irish Times

[Catmalojin]

So, Luas BXD is getting the go-ahead and will be fully exchequer funded. Unfortunately, major construction won't begin until 2015.

Page 19 of the Infrastructural and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium term Exchequer Framework has more detail:

The LUAS BXD project involves the provision of a link between the existing LUAS Red and Green Lines and extending the network onwards through the city centre to Cabra (Broombridge) via Broadstone and Grangegorman. This will link up the two existing Luas lines and will connect to the Maynooth and Dunboyne suburban rail line. For the first time, people will be able to get on a train or tram in Leixlip and get out at Stephen’s Green or Dundrum with one change. Similarly, people will be able to get from Sandyford to the O2, or CityWest to Ranelagh with just one change. It will increase the number of passenger journeys on Luas by up to 10 million and is projected to operate without requiring a subsidy.

Development of a reliable, efficient and integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area is a key element to achieving a modal shift from private car thereby tackling congestion in Dublin, enhancing economic competiveness and ensuring a sustainable, attractive city for generations to come. The creation of a more integrated public transport system facilitates more concentrated and consolidated patterns of development and reduces a reliance on the private car. With the addition of recent Luas extensions to the Docklands, Cherrywood and Citywest, it becomes ever more important that the network is completed by constructing the city centre link. This will greatly increase cross-city access with Luas providing direct links between residential areas and employment, retail, leisure, medical and education facilities on both sides of the Liffey.

In addition to serving the city centre commuter market, Luas BXD will also serve the important retail market in the city centre, facilitating shopping trips for people wishing to move between the traditional city centre retail areas of Henry Street and O’Connell St north of the river to the Grafton Street area south of the river.

Overall Luas BXD will strengthen the commercial heart of the city. Investment can be attracted into the areas served by Luas BXD and new commercial and service facilities can be developed. The Line can contribute to sustaining the business and competitiveness of the capital city and provide longterm sustainable infrastructure to support the city over the long-term.

Luas BXD will be fully Exchequer funded, with the cost apportioned over a number of years. The main construction element is being targeted to start in 2015. Details will be finalised once An Bord Pleanála issues its decision on the Railway Order application made by the RPA for this project. That decision is expected shortly. The Business Case is strong and revenues are forecast to be more than sufficient to cover the additional operating costs of the link. The project is forecast to create direct and indirect employment for 800 people over the construction period. Once operational It will create approximately 60 new sustainable jobs on the extended Luas network.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Ridiculous...

Why on earth did we not fix the roof when the sun shone and built a decent expansive luas network when we had money rather than spending years drawing up plans that would never amount to anything.

[Viking74]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

Ridiculous...

Why on earth did we not fix the roof when the sun shone and built a decent expansive luas network when we had money rather than spending years drawing up plans that would never amount to anything.

Because this country has always been run by Fu*kwits. There has never been any joined up thinking. Instead of prioritising the link up, we got extensions to places where hardly anyone lives like Saggart and trams going through ghost estates throughout South Dublin. Property developers and the government were joined at the hip. What makes this almost unbearable is paying bond holders of Anglo Irish Bank almost one billion euro and axing all of the major projects (that would provide thousands of jobs) in almost the same breath. When o when will people stand up and say enough is enough? 2015 is 4 years away and it will probably be another 3 at least before the link up is complete- that's of course if this isn't axed next year too. This government is as spineless as the last.

[Dan]

OMG 2015!!!

[belfastuniguy]

OMG that is shocking wasn't expecting that at all!


I think we can place a safe bet that Metro's planning permission will run out before it's progressed further and DART underground not see the light of day for another 10-15 years.

[Viking74]

Looks like we may be entering into a sustained period of stagnation where nothing new gets built. But we still have billions to give to those bastard banks.

[tomkirby42]

Is the Luas line to CityWest/Saggart up and running, or not?

[Never give up]

Originally Posted by tomkirby42

Is the Luas line to CityWest/Saggart up and running, or not?

You wouldn´t think so judging by the lack of activity and photos on this thread, but I did find this confused You Tube sequence on the net so I guess it must be open. Hurra!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JkQoaqhlnA

and in case anyone has forgotten where Saggart is:

[CNkid]

Originally Posted by tomkirby42

Is the Luas line to CityWest/Saggart up and running, or not?

Yes, I live near it, they run quite frequently.

[thebig C]

Originally Posted by tomkirby42

Is the Luas line to CityWest/Saggart up and running, or not?

Its been running since the summer. I live close to the Belgard Station but I haven't used the Citywest line. I will try to get some pics....not that some of the stations are places you want to be seen holding an expensive camera

[Catmalojin]

Something the rest of us noticed a while ago!

Concern over Luas link-up in Dublin city
Updated: 20:57, Monday, 6 February 2012


The Luas BXD line is estimated to cost €300m

An Bord Pleanála has expressed concern that the proposed Luas link-up in Dublin city centre would interfere with future development of the DART Underground and Metro North projects.

Construction of the LUAS link line BXD was originally scheduled to take place after completion of the two underground lines.

The board points out that the LUAS line will be above three planned Metro stations and one for the DART Underground.

In a letter to the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA), the board states it is not clear how future works can be carried out while keeping the BXD line open.

It would also have reservations about any proposal to suspend or replace this Luas service.

The Metro North and Underground DART projects have been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála.

But these plans were shelved in the Government's spending review last November because of the combined cost estimated at €5bn.

The Government said it would go-ahead with BXD, which is estimated to cost €300m.

An oral hearing on the BXD application was completed before the Government announced the suspension of the underground projects.

A decision on BXD was expected soon, but in its request for further information the board warns that any modification of existing plans would need fresh approvals.

It also wants the National Transport Authority to approve the response of the RPA.

A spokesman for the RPA said it was confident that the concerns of the board could be addressed. It has until the end of March to respond.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0206/luas.html

[Catmalojin]

From today's Irish Times:

Decision on city Luas link stalled as more facts sought

FRANK McDONALD, Environment Editor

Mon, Feb 13, 2012

AN BORD Pleanála is to commission a report on the feasibility of running the Luas through sensitive areas of Dublin city centre without overhead power cables – as has been done in the French city of Bordeaux.

In a letter to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), the board said it was commissioning the independent report because it was “not satisfied” that alternatives to overhead power cables had been “adequately explored”.

The board was to have made a decision on whether to approve the city centre link between Dublin’s two existing Luas rail lines, running onwards to Broombridge in Cabra. Instead, it is seeking more information from the RPA.

The proposed route would run from St Stephen’s Green down Dawson Street and on by way of Nassau Street, Grafton Street Lower, College Green and Westmoreland Street to O’Connell Street and then to Parnell Square and Broadstone.

In its request, the board noted that the project – known as Luas BXD – was originally planned to start after the completion of Metro North and Dart Underground, both of which have since been postponed by the Government.

It is seeking clarification from the RPA about how the latest “sequencing” of the three projects, which now gives priority to Luas BXD, would affect interaction between them – particularly in critical areas of the city centre.

“It is not clear to the board that the approved Metro North underground infrastructure . . . at St Stephen’s Green, Westmoreland Street and O’Connell Street Lower can be constructed while maintaining an operational Luas BXD service at ground level.”

An Bord Pleanála said it had “reservations about the acceptability of a scenario whereby an operational Luas BXD service would have to be suspended, or its infrastructure made redundant or replaced after only a short period in operation”.

One option suggested by the board is that the designs of Metro North and Dart Underground be modified to accommodate Luas BXD, and that this should be done in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.

The board gave the RPA a deadline of March 30th to respond to its request for clarification.

© 2012 The Irish Times

[JD47]

When will all the objections end.

[CraigKingOfireland]

Originally Posted by JD47

When will all the objections end.

Doesn't matter really, construction isn't planned to start until 2015

[JD47]

Originally Posted by CraigKingOfireland

Doesn't matter really, construction isn't planned to start until 2015

So when will we start seeing money and gas coming from this.
It is getting annoying at the moment.

[Gaillimh]

Originally Posted by JD47

When will all the objections end.

I am also fed up with the continuous objections in Dublin from various groups.

However, I have to side with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) on this one.

Line BXD was meant to built after Metro North and DART Underground.

It's safe to say that neither of these underground projects will go ahead this decade.

However, ABP want to make sure that preparations are put in place for both projects before BXD is built.

For example, the Metro station on O'Connell Street should be excavated before BXD runs over it. This is positive, forward thinking - a rarity in Irish planning, and something that should be welcomed.

Fine Gael only approved BXD as it was the cheapest project and they were seen to be doing something. They failed to realise that all three projects are intertwined.

What I am hoping for is that the government put 300 million more into the BXD project that will include the station boxes for Metro North and DART Underground in O'Connell Street and St. Stephen's Green.

Going ahead with BXD without future-proofing these projects will only be the death knell for both Metro and DART.

As for the issue of overhead wires through Dublin's historical core, I think ABP are doing the right thing by doing their own study on the matter.

Dublin City Council are aiming to make College Green a world-renouned plaza, and minimising visual clutter is a large part of that plan. If Luas wirescapes can be avoided, all the better.

I don't think any government bodies are objecting to the Luas link-up, but we need to think ahead and make sure that Metro and DART are part of the BXD plan.