[article] Luas extension point moves closer

Bluetonic

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/12/01/story232941.html

Luas extension point moves closer

The Luas extension through Dublin’s docklands to the Point Depot moved a step closer today after the Government received an application for the 1.5km route.

Serving the high density residential and commercial IFSC area from Connolly Station, it is hoped the upgrade will see 2 million passengers using the Red Line.

Trams should be running through the docks by 2008, the same time as the Luas Cross City Link is ready allowing passengers from south Dublin to reach the area.

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said the extension would help to deliver a transport infrastructure which supports economic activity.

The extension of the Luas to the Point Depot is a true example of connecting communities and promoting prosperity, he said.

In the longer term, the completion of the Interconnector will further improve the quality and quantity of public transport services in the Docklands, allowing direct access from the Kildare line and Heuston Station.

A Railway Order was received by the Department of Transport today, the fourth application for a Luas extension since the launch of the Government’s radical Transport 21 plan.

Luas operators Connex hope the upgrade will take one million trips from the road network and cater for an expected 50% growth in employment and 100% growth in the population in the area.

An independent inspector will be appointed to carry out a public inquiry into the route through Dublin’s docklands.

Upgrades to rail services from Maynooth, Kildare, a new station in the docklands and DART improvements, the IFSC and port area will be open to commuters using public transport.

Winters

Whats your media source Bluetonic?

Victor

A Railway Order was received by the Department of Transport today, the fourth application for a Luas extension since the launch of the Government’s radical Transport 21 plan.

Fourth??????

Winters

Victor wrote:

Fourth??????

My only guess would be that the other three are Line B1, Line BX and the Citywest extension.

It states Railway Order so I doubt he's including the Red Line upgrade.

Victor

Winters wrote:

My only guess would be that the other three are Line B1, Line BX and the Citywest extension.

But there is no Citywest Order is there?

Vorsprung

Maybe they mean it's the 4th one that's been submitted ever?

Winters

Yeah Citywest is nowhere near ready for submission. Unless he's talking about the Kildare Route Project and got mixed up or like you said he's counting the first Light Rail Orders although as far as I know that was done in two parts, Line A+B and then Line C shortly after.

Victor

Railway Order [sic] - they mean Draft Railway Order / Railway Order Application

was received - they have it

by the Department of Transport today, - its current

the fourth application - one, two , three, four ......

for a Luas - Luas not anything else

extension - extension therefore not existing / original

since the launch of the Government’s radical Transport 21 plan. - its new, it can't be more than one month old

Winters

Well maybe it is Citywest then. Sure cant be Lucan, Liffey Junction or Bray.

Still, Id want to know the source of that article first.

Bluetonic

Winters wrote:

Whats your media source Bluetonic?

I've edited to add the source.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/12/01/story232941.html

strassenwolf

Today's Independent wrote:

Luas heads for the Point but IFSC firms want superbus

Treacy Hogan, Environment Correspondent

THE Luas will be rolling to Dublin's Point Depot top music venue by 2008, it was predicted yesterday.

A formal application was made to extend the light rail service with a new route between Connolly station to the Point which is expected to increase passenger capacity by two million a year.

The plan rolled out yesterday involves a 1.5km extension which will have four stops at George's Dock on Mayor Street near the proposed new Abbey Theatre, Mayor Square serving the National College of Ireland, Spencer Dock and the the Point.

Population growth

Padraic White, Rail Procurement Agency chairman, said the service would be operational in three years' time.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen who received the application for a railway order to build the new line, said it would remove one million trips from the road network and cater for an expected 100pc population growth in the north Docklands.

Next step is the appointment of an independent inspector to carry out a public inquiry into the project.

But some financial companies in the area are opposing the plan saying they want a space-age bus that resembles the Luas instead.

They claim construction could devastate the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and lead to claims of €50m a day in lost business.

Space-age buses - a type of Luas on wheels - are a suggested alternative which an IFSC committee says the buses would cost a fraction of light rail.

If a light rail system is to go ahead, it should be shelved for a number of years before being introduced on a different route along the north quays, their committee suggests

The RPA said concern had been expressed by some IFSC businesses that construction could result in interruption to telecom services.

The agency said it was committed to ensuring the communications system would be maintained at all times.

A type of LUAS on wheels? Is LUAS not a type of LUAS on wheels?

MarkoP11

Only 3 applications have been made this year under the Act of 2001

KIldare Route project was first about 2 weeks before T21
Luas Line B1 Sandyford Cherrywood
Luas Line C1 Connolly Point

No works applications exist for anything else, these must be made public and thus we know of 3

Anyone got the public inquiry details for the Luas lines ?

dowlingm

"space age buses" - the Duckworth school of journalism strikes again. :rolleyes:

Victor

MarkoP11 wrote:

Luas Line C1 Connolly Point

Is this on the RPA website?

MarkoP11 wrote:

Anyone got the public inquiry details for the Luas lines ?

I think I heard the minister say something about having appointed an inspector for B1 yesterday, but I was on Valium after being to the dentist, so that might be a complete fabrication .

MarkoP11

It goes a little like this

Agency (RPA or CIE) send draft order to minister

Minister thinks about it and returns yes or no within 14 days
Applicant issues notice in 2 daily newspapers stating the works order has been submitted and that a public inquiry will be held and gives the locations of where the order may be inspected

Submissions go to public inquiry where the public have great fun picking holes at the plan, some are unfounded some cause complete redesign (read Connolly ramp vs Harbourmaster Place)

Public inquiry issues report which rejects the vast bulk of objections

Minister yay or nay on the go based on that

Beg Brian Cowan for the cash

High court challenge (well its the flavour of the month)

Build

I've seen the KRP one (deadline for submissions is Monday 5th) haven't seen the others

Victor

MarkoP11 wrote:

I've seen the KRP one (deadline for submissions is Monday 5th) haven't seen the others

Luas B1 - http://www.rpa.ie/?id=61
Kildare Route Project - http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/projects/introduction.asp

MarkoP11

The law is the law and online doesn't count

The address to where submissions are sent, deadline for submission, and the all important

"A public inquiry will be held with respect to this application"

Are missing

PandaMania

"Space-age buses - a type of Luas on wheels"

Next time these gob****es order a PC send them over a typewriter and call it a "space age writing pad"

This is one mad country alright. Bonkers.

Winters

So it is four afterall..

LUAS EXTENSION TO THE POINT DEPOT


6 December 2005
The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen T.D. today (1st December 2005) received an application for a Railway Order to extend the Luas Red Line from Connolly Station to the Point Depot. This application brings the number of Luas projects that have been progressed since the launch of "Transport 21" to four.

The project extends the Luas Red Line for 1.5km from Connelly Station through the Docklands to the Point, serving existing and planned high-density commercial and residential developments. It will add almost two million passengers to the Luas network and will remove one million trips from the road network as well as catering for an expected 50% growth in employment and 100% growth in the population in the area.

The target completion date for the project is 2008 (subject to the outcome of the Railway Order process). At around the same time the Luas Cross City Link will be completed allowing Luas passengers from the Green line to access the area. In addition, there will be other major improvements to the Irish Rail system such as the new station in the Docklands, improved signalling and additional rolling stock. These projects will provide significant additional passenger capacity into the area from Maynooth, Drogheda and the DART.

Minister Cullen said: "Luas will carry over 20 million passengers this year as many people now choose to use public transport rather than their car. Transport 21 accelerates the move to deliver a transport infrastructure which supports economic activity at both local and national level. The extension of Luas to the Point Depot is a true example of connecting communities and promoting prosperity. In the longer term, the completion of the Interconnector will further improve the quality and quantity of public transport services in the Docklands, allowing direct access from the Kildare line and Heuston Station."

The next steps in the process will involve the appointment of an independent inspector to conduct a public inquiry.

A number of representatives from transport groups based in Edinburgh, Scotland also attended today's announcement. They were on a one day visit to Dublin to see first hand Dublin's Luas as they consider introducing a light rail system in Edinburgh.

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=7175&lang=ENG&loc=1850

ad hoc

At last, after some prodding/prompting, the RPA have put the C1 Railway Order Application details online.

http://www.rpa.ie/?id=281

MarkoP11

Not before time, I checked earlier this morning and C1 was not up and I did try to call the RPA this morning on a related matter no answer, no voicemail either. Its as if they don't want to make the info available

So we now have 3 works orders on the run

Empire o de Sun

How come it is cheaper to travel from Sandyford to Tallafornia (€2.30) than it is to travel from Tallafornia to The Point (€2.50)

I know the lines aren't joined up at the moment and not likely for a while but it is strange.

Victor

The "problem" appears to be with the Green Line, where the maximum fare seems to be set at €2.30. Sandyford-SSG is the same fare as Sandyford-The Point