Monorail for Athlone

veryangryman · 24-02-2009 2:29pm #1

Ok i know this is not going to happen but..

How about a Monorail from Monksland to Kilmartins. Perfect to keep the people shopping in town, and bring people around the town. Would also allow for the possible pedestrianisation of Church street

Yes i know we cant afford it
Yes i know the town is too small to get one
And yes i know there needs to be cars allowed on Church Street

But lets just have a discussion outside of these points. Its madcap suggestions like mine above that led to the building of the Spire in Dublin!

:pac:

CGorman · 24-02-2009 3:17pm

Hmm... I do think that the spire cost about as much as a half miles worth of Monorail track! Haha!

I personally believe the following points:
> Population of 15,000+: Can support a basic 1-2 route bus service
> Population of 25,000+: Can support more extensive bus service
> Population of 40,000+: Can necessitate 1-2 dedicated bus lanes
> Population of 50,000+: Can support a single Luas line
> Population of 100,000+: Can support two intersecting Luas lines

However this all depends on population density, tourism volume, hinterland population, land prices and historic structural planning.

I firmly believe Athlone & Mullingar will grow to 40,000-50,000 population each over the course of the next few decades - but it could be 20, 30 or 40yrs. So I think the challenge is that we today plan new streets, area redevelopments and road layouts with the future in mind - for example we should be ensuring ring road widths (in Mullingars case) are sufficent for upgrading to dedicated bus lanes + 2 lane traffic; and we should be ensuring sufficent urban development takes place (like developing brownfield/greenfield sites between Athlone Centre and Monksland.)

In the medium term, before going for pie-in-the-sky, I think we should be aiming for:

> Southern by-pass of Athlone town (behind Golden Island with bridge over river)
> Improved bus frequencies between Athlone-Mullingar (to support more commuting)
> Re-opening of Athlone-Moate-Mullingar train line
> Support the development of the Airport in Horseleap and ensure rail/bus connectivity to Athlone, Mullingar, Longford, Tullamore
> Develop a second bridge accross the shannon (in addition to the motorway and my earlier bypass proposal)
> Develop a park&ride bus service to both Mullingar & Athlone (e.g. build large carparks outside town centre at the terminus of local bus routes into the centres)
> Protect limited green spaces in urban areas (Mullingar Park, Athlone Park)
> Forward plan for upgrades to bus lanes, luas track in all future road developments
> Severe restrictions to all housing/retail proposals significantly outside town centre and allow more high density development.

Anyways thats my two cents!

Saint_Mel · 24-02-2009 3:34pm

Well if Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook can have a monorail, I dont see why Athlone cant!

martin1 · 24-02-2009 3:51pm

I think it would be much better in stereo myself.

AngryHippie · 24-02-2009 4:13pm

Yeah, the lack of a monorail is definitely athlones biggest problem:rolleyes:

Black NG-60-90 · 25-02-2009 1:47pm

Maybe a metro system would be a better option. You could get the underground from Willow Park into Golden Island to do the Shopping and then maybe head out on the Coosan line to visit a few friends. And all journeys would take about 15 seconds

Sleipnir · 25-02-2009 1:54pm

Is there a chance the track could bend?

Zube · 25-02-2009 2:36pm

CGorman wrote: »

Improved bus frequencies between Athlone-Mullingar (to support more commuting)
Re-opening of Athlone-Moate-Mullingar train line

I propose we merge these two: pave over the Athlone-Mullingar railway line and run an express bus service on it. Much cheaper than rail.

CGorman · 25-02-2009 3:05pm

Good idea Zube! Any suggestions for a mini-Space Port, or Rocket Launch facility?... maybe we could put it in Drumraney or somewhere! Haha.... its great to dream lads... but lets not forget were in a recession... monorail in athlone... well lets see how the dublin metro gets on first!!

siralfalot · 25-02-2009 3:32pm

linky for more info on the Athlone monorail

25-02-2009 3:57pm

Talk about having a one track mind!

veryangryman · 25-02-2009 5:26pm

CGorman wrote: »

> Population of 50,000+: Can support a single Luas line

ITS A MONORAIL! I refuse to keep our language alive using the life support of these "cute" titles for our public transport.

However, on reflection, now that Elan is narrowing its fleet, this idea looks about as useless as that lemon shaped rock over there.......

CGorman · 25-02-2009 6:27pm

veryangryman wrote: »

ITS A MONORAIL! I refuse to keep our language alive using the life support of these "cute" titles for our public transport.

Eek! Someone did'nt like gaeilge at school!

veryangryman wrote: »

this idea looks about as useless as that lemon shaped rock over there.......

Hmm... replace "this idea" with "My, Veryangreymans idea" and I think the sentence reads better

120_Minutes · 25-02-2009 10:28pm

but main street's still all cracked and broken!

veryangryman · 26-02-2009 10:17am

120_Minutes wrote: »

but main street's still all cracked and broken!

So true...In fact, the more i think about it, the more ours is similar to Springfield.

Except the International airport. I mean seriously, what kind of town has only 1 school and yet can hold an International airport?

:cool:

roosterman71 · 26-02-2009 11:03am

veryangryman wrote: »

So true...In fact, the more i think about it, the more ours is similar to Springfield.

Except the International airport. I mean seriously, what kind of town has only 1 school and yet can hold an International airport?

:cool:

Knock?