Dublin Metrolink - future routes for next Metrolink

I'm just spitballing.

I definitely think it's a good idea to develop the entire SW industrial area to medium density housing. This requires a Metro.

After that I'm not sure.

I'd like to convert Poolbeg Peninsula from industry to high rise offices and apartments but it might not be possible.

Lots of Dublin doesn't have the density to necessitate a Metro.

So when people say things like "the Rathfarnham/Terenure area has nothing, they should have a metro", that has no merit. It's all houses with lots of elderly people.

We'd have to dig into the data of west Dublin but I bet the majority of people are commuting to the city center and then some are transfering to UCD,DCU, Docklands, DIT etc.

It does though when there is little scope for densification.

Metrolink is clear and obvious given the potential throughout the north inner city, the airport connectivity, connecting the huge Swords area and the development potential of north county Dublin.

Unless the lands near the foothills of the mountains are developed, I can’t see how it will ever change. There are some religious lands still, but this is a part of Dublin that is built on with high occupancy rates. It was just planned badly decades ago.

Much of the rest of Dublin is like this, including the South East of Dublin. I’m from an area where if you looked at the map you’d say it’s covered by the Green Line and DART. In reality it isn’t though, it’s 20/25 mins walk to both. When the Green Line was built, they deliberately avoided some of these areas as the development potential wasn’t there (old Harcourt alignment via Foxrock golf course). The area will always have to settle for buses and that’s fine, particularly as Bus Connects improves with orbital routes.

The Terenure and its surroundings area of Dublin is a lovely place to live but it is what it is. There’s no UCD. There’s no N11 like corridor of apartments. There’s no Sandyford. There’s no Cherrywood. There’s no Dún Laoghaire. Heck, there’s no Blackrock which itself has a lot of employment.

What there is is suburban houses, some nice schools, some nice sports clubs and lots of golf courses. And Marley Park.

"Really well served"? Really? So it has a turn up and go service then? Seven days a week? Last time I checked the timetable a minute ago it didn't. Just because it isn't a Fridays Only pensioner bus service between Bumbleduck and Ballygobackwards doesn't equate to being "Really well served"

Yes tunnel.

We have loads of money that needs to be invested in infrastructure, as we are years behind other European cities.

Dublin SE is one of the best served region for PT in the country.

From brides Glenn luas stop to bus stop 3143 on the N11 QBC is 800m, from there to shankhill dart station it’s 1.1KM.

Compare that to Dublin SW 😂

How would the busses in the SW get to this inner orbital route, as there are no QBCs in the SW region which has one of the slowest if not the slowest journey times due to chronic traffic.

Why will it HAVE to be above ground?

The metro line can go from Tallaght which is a major population hub and journey generator to the NE of dublin via the CC and via major population densities such as I have already mentioned.

There is no room for it to go above ground as much as there’s no room for QBCs to be built in the SW.

Where in the SE are you- roughly.

I’ll debate your post point by point:

If you look at a map you’ll clearly see large tracts not covered by either. I am quite content that Bus Connects is the best we’ll get.

At least you will get QBCs in this area- the QBCs for the SW (Templeogue/terenure in particular) will take ages to get built due to nimbyism. There will be delays and JRs on this route.

The concept of park and ride does not work in these suburbs as there is just so much local traffic.

P+R will work if it’s located in the correct location with easy access off main arterial routes and has frequent RELIABLE and quick PT heading out of the P+R.

A tunnel under Terenure et al is a white elephant. It in no way justifies the expense;

Third level institutions

Sports stadiums

Sea

Areas of mass employment 

Brownfield sites

Development sites

Low occupancy areas that can be redeveloped

I don’t get what ya mean here? Tallaght has all of the above that you have strikes through bar the sea?

The tunnel under terenure is there because there is no road space for a metro above ground.

Tallaght and the Red Line can be more than supplemented by both the Knocklyon Luas (above ground) and Lucan Luas. The Lucan Luas will immediately alleviate the Red Line issues. My personal preference would not to have the Luas Lucan but the DART Tunnel plus a spur to Lucan. But anyway.

What is this Knocklyon LUAS route and where does it go? How long would it take to get to the cc? Where does it service? How would a Lucan LUAS alleviate the overcrowding on the red line? It wouldn’t increase its frequency or speed.

People coming from tallaght and safari are still going to get the red line LUAS.

I’m not gonna quote the rest because I think I’ve made my point, but if you lay out this knocklyon LUAS route to me that would be helpful.

The Dart is only at the very northern edge of the "city edge" project so it doesn't matter so much. But along its southern side, 1000s of apartments can be built. The LDA have plans for the CIE land in Inchicore also.

The Red Luas is definitely close to capacity so a Metro to Tallaght would free up loads of capacity.

I think to do the "City edge" project properly, it needs a Metro or Luas through Ballymount.

Luas Lucan night never happen.

But even if it did, is it enough to alleviate capacity to an extent that 10,000s of people could live alongside the Red Luas?

I don't think so.

Ifs and buts here does not justify an expensive Metro line.

Have NTA had a Knocklyon luas route?

The main capacity constraint on the Red line is the core? Adding yet another western spur to the Red line will only make it even more congested.

Why is there so much talk of building tramlines in the suburbs outside the M50 when the city centre is filled with double decker buses? We need more tram capacity in the centre (and metros and heavy rail). Most of these outer suburbs, including the orbital, can be served very well with buses with minimal extra infrastructure.

Trams for the suburbs and buses for the centre... it's just wrong.

Eh no, there’s extra capacity in the city centre. Gives an option for people on the Red Line to keep south of the River too.

Don't want rerail the main Metrolink thread so going to contuine this here.

This was posted over there, and some of the posts got me thinking, is there merit in using this land bank, not instead of but in addition to Metrolink.

With the constraints the Howth spur is going to put on future Northern line frequency, is it worth considering separating the Howth spur from Dart. And run a tunnel from Bayside to Clongriffen and then contuine the line west linking with airport and also further to link with Blanchardstown, Metro West etc.

Whether this is Metro or Dart I don't know, but maybe food for thought.