Tunnel upgrade costs €75m. But rail chiefs plan to spend €1bn on new one

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN must explain why it plans to spend €1 billion on a tunnel under the river Liffey after it emerged using an existing route under the Phoenix Park would cost €925m less.

The Strategic Rail Review (SSR), published two weeks ago, said proposals to link Dublin’s Heuston and Connolly stations via a new rail line would require a new tunnel under the river Liffey.

However, an independent rail infrastructure lobby group, Platform 11, told an Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday that routing traffic through the existing Phoenix Park tunnel, through Phibsborough, Drumcondra and on to Connolly would cost just €75m.

Platform 11’s Brian Guckian said it made no sense to waste public money on unnecessary rail projects in Dublin when the rest of the country’s rail infrastructure was badly in need of investment.

“The cost of doing this is at a fraction of the cost of the Iarnród Éireann plan,” he said.

The Phoenix Park tunnel is only used for freight traffic. However, the line has recently been upgraded to handle passenger trains.

Platform 11 believes the line could cater for trains at five minute intervals in both directions. Journey time between Heuston and Connolly would be between 12 and 20 minutes.

Thomas Sheridan, of Platform 11’s steering group, told the Oireachtas committee the Phoenix Park line could link all of Dublin’s major rail stations to form an urban, integrated system allowing connections between InterCity trains and commuter services. New stations could also be opened up in heavily populated areas, he said.

“For decades, Dublin rail commuters and InterCity travellers have longed for the day they could take the train between Heuston Station and Connolly station,” he added.

After yesterday’s meeting, the Oireachtas committee agreed it would ask Iarnród Eireann to explain the reason for a new tunnel.

“If it does work then the State is going to save itself a vast amount of money,” committee chairman Eoin Ryan said.

Fine Gael transport spokesperson Denis Naughten called on Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan to scrap the Liffey tunnel plan and consider the cheaper route.

“Imagine if all who traipse in from Kildare/Sallins, were able to get to the DART line at Connolly via Heuston Station, Phibsborough and Drumcondra. This would be a new watershed in public transport in Dublin,” he said.