All aboard: Docklands station to open by 2007
The development at Spencer Dock will bring an extra 20,000 passengers into the capital by train every day, with services to Maynooth, Co Kildare, running every 15 minutes.
“Docklands is an immediate, practical, value-for-money transport solution. Connolly Station cannot cater for any additional peak-time trains,” the minister said. “While the DART resignalling project, when completed, will allow for some additional services, we need a quicker solution. Docklands Station is that solution. With Docklands in place, we have a new station alongside Connolly and thereby get more people on more trains into the heart of the city.”
The development is part of the €34 billion Transport 21 plan which has included proposals for a Metro in the north of the city, extensions on the Luas lines and new motorway routes.
The ambitious scheme also includes plans for a Grand Central style transport hub beneath St Stephen’s Green in the city centre.
Work began on the Docklands site yesterday and the minister insisted it would be will be built without causing any disruption to existing services.
Services from the Docklands to Maynooth will take 40 minutes and 23 minutes to Clonsilla while the new station will also allow link-ups with Luas to Tallaght-Citywest.
Mr Cullen added: “The Docklands Station essentially marks the commencement of the first phase of the Navan Rail line development, a key component of Transport 21.
“When the work to reopen the old railway line between Clonsilla and Dunboyne is completed in 2009, all the services on that line will operate into this new city-centre station.
“This will go some way towards alleviating the hardship of long-distance commuters who are not currently served by a viable public transport alternative to the private car.”
