Time to get rid of or replace the loop line bridge

arybvtcw0eolkf

Qualitymark wrote: »

Another solution is to take the bridge down and not provide any replacement line so that northside and southside are actually divided…

Won't work. The trains will just drive really fast and jump the gap.

hmmm

Why do they need such a massive gridwork of a bridge - the pillars are also far too big? It probably wouldn't defeat an engineer to design a bridge that would have a single horizontal element, so even though the bridge remained we would still be able to see the rest of the city.

frankyboy1986

Qualitymark wrote: »

Another solution is to take the bridge down and not provide any replacement line so that northside and southside are actually divided…

didnt they already try something similar with the broadmeadow viaduct?

miamee

How often do people actually stop on a bridge to take in the view? I do it myself from time to time but I'm not sure many other people do.

It's not the prettiest of bridges but it looks much better since they removed the advertising from it and actually it's not half bad. Surely something supporting multiple Darts and commuter trains every day needs to be sturdy and strong and therefore a bit chunky?

whisky_galore

There are a lot worse looking buildings in Dublin.

Riskymove

whisky_galore wrote: »

There are a lot worse looking buildings in Dublin.

tbf I think it is less about the bridge itself and more about the visual impact and impeded views etc

Riskymove

http://www.bridgesofdublin.ie/bridges/loopline-bridge/history

whisky_galore

Riskymove wrote: »

tbf I think it is less about the bridge itself and more about the visual impact and impeded views etc

Unless there's something like a serious structural issue, I very much doubt it will be replaced in our lifetimes. A case of build a bridge and get over it.

As an occasional visitor to Dublin I like the bridge - it is as much an image of the city as the customs house to me.

There is a lot of lower hanging fruit available if you want to see the city centre beautified.

Qualitymark

What about superstition - getting rid of the bridge would improve the city's feng shui!

Peregrine

If we're getting rid of anything, it should be Hawkins House.

humberklog

I got to like the loop line. It is brutal, strong too. A lovely reminder of strong and unkind engineering. I like cities with stark tattoos of things that meant something at some point.

I've a construction engineering background and can't see how a tunnel would work as the gradients to get under and up below the liffey and return the lines back into existing lines would take a huge length of line.

Cookie_Monster

It's a great looking piece of heavy engineering. Much better looking than many of the surrounding buildings.

It would also be immensely impractical and expensive to tunnel. Trains can't really deal with more than a 3% grade. So probably 10m to street level, another 5m to river and 10m to bottom underneath; 25m drop, requires almost a km to allow for that either side of the river.

Polar101

I quite like the bridge, would be nice if it wasn't as 'low-lying' as it is now, but not much that could be done about that. Tara Street station is definitely needed, so I don't see the 'going around' options being too realistic.

power pants

why not just have a ramp at each side and the train can jump over the liffey ? :rolleyes:

Qualitymark

power pants wrote: »

why not just have a ramp at each side and the train can jump over the liffey ? :rolleyes:

Yes, already suggested this, but for some reason people aren't enthusiastic. Actually, on thinking it through, probably the most sensible thing would be to have a couple of airships hovering over the river that could attach hooks to the train and float it across each time.

loyatemu

Qualitymark wrote: »

Yes, already suggested this, but for some reason people aren't enthusiastic. Actually, on thinking it through, probably the most sensible thing would be to have a couple of airships hovering over the river that could attach hooks to the train and float it across each time.

now you're being silly.

How about giant fans floating on the Liffey that levitate the trains over on a cushion on air?

Qualitymark

loyatemu wrote: »

now you're being silly.

How about giant fans floating on the Liffey that levitate the trains over on a cushion on air?

Oooh! I *likes* it.

hmmm

loyatemu wrote: »

now you're being silly.

How about giant fans floating on the Liffey that levitate the trains over on a cushion on air?

Perhaps a giant magnet under the water, and another giant magnet with reverse polarity on the train that could hover the train across.

Or better still, a London eye type setup with a rollercoaster. If you angled it right, it would allow a clear view down the quays.

I wouldn't dismiss a giant cannon either, there's lots you could do with this.

BMJD

I had to remind myself what the proposed redevelopment of Liberty Hall was supposed to look like:



eeew

it would look fine a kilometer or two further east along the quays imo

back to the bridge, it's ugly as sin but it ain't going anywhere anytime soon, it's a shame that it can't be tidied up a bit, those horrible lattice girder things are rotten looking yokes

Aard

BMJD wrote: »

back to the bridge, it's ugly as sin but it ain't going anywhere anytime soon, it's a shame that it can't be tidied up a bit, those horrible lattice girder things are rotten looking yokes

One man's "horrible lattice girder" is another man's beautiful industrial heritage.

Cookie_Monster

BMJD wrote: »

I had to remind myself what the proposed redevelopment of Liberty Hall was supposed to look like:

pity that never happened. might have finally been the kick off of building up instead of ever outwards in Dublin

Peregrine

BMJD wrote: »

I had to remind myself what the proposed redevelopment of Liberty Hall was supposed to look like:



eeew

A lot better than what's there now..

cgcsb

If people think the loop line is bad, wait till the NRA has a go at our nice little financial quarter, to be, in the Docklands with their 'Eastern Bypass'

http://dublinportabr.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Planning-Report-Appendix-4.-ABR-and-the-Eastern-Bypass.pdf

A high four lane viaduct is proposed. At 45metres above ground level it would overshadow most of the low-rise docks.

Aard

In fairness, that report states that a tunnel beneath the port/Liffey is an option too.

Greenmachine

Nim wrote: »

A lot better than what's there now..

Definitely not that it will happen with Dublin's terror of tall buildings.

r93kaey5p2izun

I love the Loopline! Love the shots of it in The Commitments. A great treat as a child in the 80s used to be a drive into town for a McDonald's and eat it parked up waiting to see the DART pass over it.

TOEJOE

No please;;;;;; Keep the bridge I have been jumping into the liffey from this bridge for the last 50 years

Qualitymark

Aard wrote: »

In fairness, that report states that a tunnel beneath the port/Liffey is an option too.

Sure if they're going to put a tunnel there for the road, can't they run the rail line alongside it?

Peregrine

Qualitymark wrote: »

Sure if they're going to put a tunnel there for the road, can't they run the rail line alongside it?

That would be some detour..

Did you read the report? It's a completely different project in a completely different part of the city.