Fantasy time: route for a 2nd Dublin metro?

I think Tallaght to Coolock is the obvious choice, it'd fill the gaps in the rail map

If we're getting the crayons out, I would suggest

Rathcoole/Saggart - south Tallaght - Firhouse - Kncklyon / Ballyboden - Rathfarnham - Teranure - Kimmage / Harold's Cross - Coombe - [City Centre] -

then either (Docklands - East Wall - Marino) or ( Drumcondra / Croke Park ) - Whitehall - Beaumont - Coolock - Howth Junction - Howth (converting the DART spur)

There is scope for cut and cover stations and in parts route along that alignment and even surface running at the extemities (which can be left to later extensions if required). Might be scope to have a branch from Teranure-sih directly toward central Tallaght

Should open around 2090.

While we are fantasising, the above would negate the desire to extend Metrolink south west from its current proposed terminus. So if the powers that be continue to baulk at converting the Green Line, you could truncate the exisitng GL service to Carrickmine P&R as its southern terminus, making it a more reasonable distance for trams, and extend the currently proposed Metrolink to Donnybrook - UCD - (via the eastern bypass reservation) - Ballally - (run parallel to GL) - Sandyford - (east of racecoure) - Carrickmines - (upgrade exisitng GL) - Brides Glen - extension to Bray / Fassaroe . All surface running or some cut/cover from UCD south.

The official plan was for Tallaght-Harolds X to join the Metro North.

Tallaght - Ballymount (2 stops) - Crumlin - St Teresa's Gardens - Newmarket Sq - Dame St - Tara St - Grand Canal Sq - Ringsend - Irish Glass Bottle Site - Poolbeg (2 stops)

I'd CPO Ringsend Bus Depot, Shelbourne Greyhound Stadium, Sports Co and the ESB lot. Build high density mixed development. 20,000 people could live here.

The Metrolink to Swords should connect with the Belfast/DART line in Donabate maybe. It should also continue south to Sandyford either via the Green line or a new route through UCD.

Once the Metrolink starts, we should start planning the new line so it's ready to start when the Metrolink finishes.

Priority should be given to connecting land with potential for high density development to places with high employment. So I think my route fits this best. The Naas Rd will have high density apartments so no harm in Tallaght having another public transport line.

Lots of parts of Dublin will miss out but they're too low density for a Metro such as Terenure, Rathfarnham, Coolock, Etc

So this line increases productivity and quality of life as 100,000s of people can live in modern apartments on high speed public transport so they're just 10 or 20 minutes from work. So people don't need a car and have low energy bills. This is why it's vital it continues to Sandyford also.

The Docks are nearly fully developed now. So the city will need to expand somewhere. Dublin Port can't move apparently.

So it's a no brainer to gradually phase out industry on poolbeg Peninsula. Have two Metro stops and high density apartments and offices.

Along the red line on Naas Rd can also be developed to high density housing so the Metro should go to Tallaght to take pressure off the red line. Maybe two stops in Tallaght.

Ballymount industrial estate can be developed also with two Metro stops.

Also have a Metro stop at Grand canal Plaza. This is near new docklands dart station and Grand canal dock station and also the Luas so is a transport hub.

This Metro can connect with other Metro line at either Tara or St Stephen's Green. Not sure which but it's important to connect somewhere central.

The Irish Glass bottle site will need a stop also.

I think this is the best way to open up good land for high density development.

Lots of Dublin doesn't have the density for Metro. The industrial estates in SW of the city is the best spot to develop.

Ballymount would be just 20 minutes from the city centre so would be a good place to live for quality of life.

The Metrolink northern end should extend to Donabate and interchange with the rail station. Likewise the southern end should go to Sandyford either via the Green line or a new route through UCD.

If they are mostly at grade like the luas , its glacial...

Good idea if possible. Not sure if the road can take it though.

Pearse St could definitely take a Luas line though.

My hope is that once the Metrolink starts being built, they'll start planning the next line.

It's surely easier to just continue building since you've all the experienced labour force ready to go.

My proposal is Tallaght to Poolbeg Peninsula.

Ballymount industrial estate is huge and could maybe house 100,000 people.

When the legislation is rolled out, it might help. <25kmhr shares cycling infrastructure, anything faster shares the roadway with other motorised vehicles.

If it’s crayons ye want… I’ve got them :)

This is pure idle fantasy, and while I’ve tried to make it sort-of fit, that’s about all I’ve done…

So, I’ve added two further lines. The orange one is what I think should be built next: from Donaghmede in the Northeast to Firhouse in the Southwest (maybe hooking north at the end, and joining Red Line in Tallaght), but running roughly North-South through the city centre.

It’s probably not possible until a full network is in place, but the two links I’ve shown with the first Metrolink line would allow four services to be run with these two lines: Swords-Charlemont, Swords-Firhouse, Donaghmede-Charlemont and Donaghmede-Firhouse. Actually putting those in would mean closing Metrolink, though.

The third line, in red here, runs roughly East-West. This would start in Lucan and do a loop around the South inner city. Yes, I put a stop in at Dublin Zoo, because they’re my crayons! (Also, it’s the most visited paid attraction in the country - anyone who’s ever tried to park there in Summertime wouldn’t mind)

The links between the second and third line allow for quite a lot of service options, including the “Culchie Special” : Heuston to Clonliffe Rd, or, for that matter a link from Heuston to Dublin Airport if the link between 1 and 2 were done.

Of course, both of these are way, way more expensive than Metrolink, as they will have to go deep in places to cross other lines, and some of the city stations will have to be mined out too. The Firhouse-Donagmede line also has to deal with the Port Tunnel somehow… maybe a level crossing could be created? 😝

Doh! What was I thinking?

I would do Tallaght to the city centre, going through Ballymount Industrial estate.

The benefit of this is that the industrial estates along the red line could be developed to medium density housing. Likewise Ballymount Industrial estate could be developed to housing.

This is already planned with "City Edge" project.

At least 100,000 people could live and work in this new urban quarter.

This gives good quality of life if well planned as just 15 minutes from city center.

I'm not sure of other stops, maybe Crumlin - St Teresa's Gardens - Newmarket Sq.

It would intersect with the other Metro at Charlemont maybe or Tara or SSG.

This part might not be feasible but I'd develop Poolbeg peninsula into a Canary Wharf type development with high rise offices and apartments.

It would require phasing out the industry and power stations and putting the sewage plant underground.

But it could be really amazing with beaches and parks and Pigeon House could be a museum maybe.

So the Metro would continue out to Poolbeg with stops at Grand canal dock, glass bottle site also.