Labour hits out at 'shambolic' transport policy

Luas proposals originally rejected by the Government, now being reconsidered, represent a shambolic approach to transport policy, it was claimed today.

The feasibility of a new €70m route, which would link the two current light rail lines and pass straight through Dublin city centre is being studied by the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA), the Taoiseach told the Dáil.

But in 1998 Mary O’Rourke, then Transport Minister, rejected proposals for such a tramway in favour of an underground link.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte asked: “Is there any consistent coherence in Government policy in respect of the provision of transport in Dublin?

“Something that was shot down by Minister O’Rourke is now seen as the way to go. What way is that to make major infrastructure policy?”

He said the latest proposals appeared to rule out the prospect of a Dublin metro and asked Bertie Ahern how he planned to run extra buses, trains, trams and cars in such an inner city area.

Mr Ahern said since the original decisions were taken there had been a number of developments.

“It was felt some years ago that to do the link would rule out other issues,” he said. “We have a new plan from Irish Rail which is quite a good plan.”

He said it was not a question of simply dropping the concept of a metro but doing it within a realistic cost.

He told the Dáil the RPA had recently considered the feasibility of linking the two existing Luas lines through the city centre and claimed such a move would not rule out the case for a metro in the future.

A new line could potentially be delivered in between 18 and 24 months, he revealed.

Mr Rabbitte said if it could be done in such a short space of time it should have been built in conjunction with the other lines to minimise extra costs.