Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

It just goes to show you that if they're any other local politicians out there asking for more changes to be put forward by their own constituents that will attempt to delay this project all over again. It just shows that there will be no attempts to bound any form of stupidity when it comes to building infrastructure projects in this state.

Thankfully though; Eamon Ryan wants to get this project through to the planning system asap because he really do not want to see this project getting delayed in the eyes of the public all over again.

Obviously Metrolink has yet to have its business case accepted but it would be great if this was actually the case. ABP will definately have their hands full over the next few years with the amount of infrastructure projects in progress!

Should we factor in a half-month delay for every other step of the project as well? Where would that leave us with completion dates?

Converting the Harcourt Street line to a BRT was pure CIE though. That was them being unable to admit they screwed up closing it and removing the bridges ASAP.

The reservation from Blanchardstown Centre down to the railway line is still in place.

Lacey knows what areas vote for him and is willing to pander to those against the policies of his own party.

The problem is the closer you are to the city Center the less public transport affects you, so people that live near charlemont are much likelier to just walk to work than those further out, they also already have a luas if they need it. These people are happy with what they have and don’t want it disturbed and councillors like him don’t give a toss about anything beyond getting the votes in so will pander to any aul nonsense.

Would they rather the NTA not arrange prepatory works to be done for the station, so that these brand new buildings would instead have to be knocked down in a few years time so that a station can be built???

And they would 100% complain at that fact if that was the case in a few years time as well!

On the flipside, the authorities should listen to their concerns and how projects intergrate with their communities but the balance seems to be weighted on their often overhyped concerns.

I have no idea why enabling works are a problem as a way to prepare for a major infrastructure project like this one.

If these residents associations are complaining that works are being carried out to prevent demolition of an existing building so it can include a metrolink station in Charlemont; what is the major issue here with getting on that part of the project while it will prevent more major costly mistakes later on during construction of this major piece of infrastructure.

To my knowledge; if these residents associations from the Charlemont area are making complaints on why these projects have to include enabling works to be built on the former INBS building even if they don't want it just tells me what they want. It's just them taking part in dithering & pure knit-picking just for the sake of boosting their ignorance on these matters.

The way they went to court over this matter just highlights that ignorance taking hold on a certain number of people who live in the area. They then have the gumption to go on and complain that the transport infrastructure within the capital is not running to their required standard.

It's the unknown work of the hypocrite at hand while the rest of society get to struggle on right alongside them.

"Almost a quarter of a billion euro has been spent on Dublin’s various Metro projects in the past 15 years, without any construction having ever taken place." (source: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40773486.html)

Now, we'll add 12.5M euro of public funds to the above, while the project is still pending Gov approval and who knows what will happen if it reaches ABP; it'll probably take them at least 1.5 to 2yrs minimum, before reaching a final verdict on the project.

By the way, building a station box before the project, already happened before, see this 2019 article: https://www.thejournal.ie/mater-metrolink-metro-north-nta-dublin-4585274-Apr2019/

"THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT Authority has defended its decision to build a new MetroLink station at the Mater Hospital in Dublin despite a €12 million spend on a ‘station box’ structure 500 metres away for the shelved Metro North. [...]

According to a spokesperson for the NTA, the alignment of MetroLink has changed from Metro North which has resulted in “the angle of approach to the Mater shifting away from the previously planned station box”. [...] "

I agree it make sense build a metro box before new buildings that will sit on top of it, so there is no need to demolish them at a later stage; it would be a total waste. I think the Gov should have made the decision to reimburse Hines, only after the Metrolink project is completed (if ever). It should otherwise been a risk that the builder alone should had to take, for the privilege to build in that location now already. That's the issue I think, more public money down the drain continuously been spent on Metro projects, without any tangible result in sight... maybe in 10yrs time and not without a certain degree of luck.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it was a full station box that they built at the hospital. That said, it still mystifies me that they would change the alignment north of the city centre, given the previous MN route had been fully scoped and money spent on it - money that is now wasted. There was no reason for the change of route to be honest.