Calls for central transport authority

A CENTRAL transport authority for Dublin must be set up if the hugely ambitious plans for a major overhaul of public transport in the capital are to be realised, business leaders and politicians said yesterday.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen indicated he planned to set up the Dublin authority but had no further details at the launch in Dublin Castle of Transport 21.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce chief executive Gina Quin said the authority was needed to ensure “joined up thinking” and to make sure the “bold and ambitious” plans were delivered on time and within budget.

St Stephen’s Green will be the transport hub of the city, Dublin’s very own Grand Central Station, according to the Mr Brennan.

An underground station will be built beside the green, with an entrance at the top of Grafton Street.

Passengers will, if the 10 year plan is delivered, be able to easily connect into the Luas and the Metro and therefore the Dart and the main lines.

From St Stephen’s Green, already the terminal for the Sandyford Luas line which is to be extended to Cherrywood, then Bray, it will take just 17 minutes to get to Dublin Airport.

Alternatively, a passenger will be able take the interconnector from St Stephen’s Green to Heuston or east to the Docklands and a new station close to the Point Depot, well placed for those attending concerts.

The Metro line running north will meet the western line at Ballymun, which runs from there to Blanchardstown, the mainline station at Clondalkin and then on to meet the Tallaght Luas. The northern Metro line will eventually extend out to Swords.

In total, seven new Luas lines are planned. The longest and most ambitious is a line between a new Dublin city centre station just on the south side of the river out to Lucan.

The Tallaght-Connolly line will be extended to the Docklands station and, at the other end, a spur will be built to Citywest, providing private developers contribute towards the cost.

The extension of the Sandyford line to Bray means it will be connected into the southern coastal Dart and suburban rail lines.

In the city centre, the two Luas lines will be connected between St Stephen’s Green and O’Connell Street. The Metro will also run underground along the same route.

This new cross-city link will be extended out to the new Dublin Institute of Technology site at Grangegorman and on to Liffey Junction, where it will meet the Maynooth suburban line.

For commuters living outside Dublin, the Transport 21 plan promises a new line to Navan and upgrades on the Kildare line to the south west.

The number of park and ride schemes on the outskirts of the city will be doubled to 74. Dublin Bus will be asked to completely review its network.

They are likely, along with private operators, to be asked to plug the still large gaps in the network, operating as shuttle services between the various rail lines.

Labour’s Roisin Shortall believes the Dublin plan is impressive but is sceptical whether it will be delivered. “Dublin’s northside has lost out again as it will now be at least seven years before the chronic congestion on roads in north Dublin is eased,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary described the Metro line to the airport as a Department of Transport “vanity project”.