City centre business already counting cost of major '' Luas Metro'construction on St Stephen’s Green

national | eu | opinion/analysis

Monday September 27, 2010 16:12

by David

We have spent billions on the LUAS tram rail which only stretches a couple of miles,in the city of dublin,and now we are having to spend a further couple of billion for a project that is over budget and already late for the schedule date!There is a market in ireland for a national connected rail,not just an over budget rail that only stretches a few miles from dublin to killiney..Bus services and train services in ireland are infamous for being uncordinated.There are places in ireland you still cannot get to,and in order to get anwhere in ireland you need a car,to travel,maybe it could even clean up road deaths.

Meanwhile we have existing rails in ireland,that are unused,and there is a comprehensive transport service in ireland that is badly needed,for instance in some parts of Kerry,the West of Clare,the list could go on and on,and on.I have seen many an overgrown train line,in my travels as a local tourist from the Clare reigion myself,there is a need for a national rail,linked up with the old
de commissioned rails all over ireland,not to mention the money saved by this..

'City centre business already counting cost of major construction on St Stephen’s Green''
''WORK ON the ''Metro North'' line from St Stephen’s Green to Dublin airport and north Co Dublin will begin in April, the Railway Procurement Agency has said.''However, several city businesses are calling for the Government to cancel the project or postpone it until the economy recovers.'''Following several delays in the planning process, Bord Pleanála last month wrote to the RPA stating its intention to issue a decision on the railway order for the Metro by the end of October.''The agency said if the railway order was granted as expected next month, it would be able to start enabling work on the line in April 2011.'''The enabling works due to start in April – moving utilities, such as gas, and pipes or broadband lines – would have “some impacts”, said project director Rory O’Connor''He said during the construction phase proper, from mid-2012 to 2016, work sites would become “more noticeable”'Apart from this area there would be no road closures in the city, but Westmoreland Street would be open only to public transport. Access would be preserved to all premises for servicing and deliveries, with “local diversions” where necessary.''Mr O’Connor said the construction of Iarnród Éireann’s Dart Underground “will largely run in parallel” with the Metro. However, as the Luas and Dart were separate projects only now at the start of the planning process, there was no guarantee they would be granted planning in time to link up with the ''Metro'' construction.''“It was not practical for a number of reasons. All three are big enough as they are in terms of trying to raise private financing in the market. You couldn’t get funding if you tried to tie two of them together.”'

For a full read: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0927...ia=mr