Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

One option for ameliorating the very poor link between the Red line and the metrolink might be to build a station under the river, between Eden Quay and Burgh Quay.

Such a sub-river solution was approved by ABP for the metronorth project, at O'Connell Bridge, so this idea isn't in any way new.

It wouldn't be my ideal solution, as I remain unconvinced that Dublin can't do better at O'Connell Street itself, if a closer examination of the possibilities there were to be carried out - perhaps with some extra help re TBM flexibility, disruption management, etc.

A sub-river solution would, at a stroke approximately halve (i.e 'slash') the interchange distance between the metrolink and the Red line, over the current poor proposal. To 200-250 metres.

Of course, it would also increase the distance for an interchange between the metrolink and Tara Street to, maybe, 80-100 metres.

But that's small - we're being told in the official promos that a 450+ walk between the metrolink and the Red Luas is an 'easy' interchange, under the current plan.

As I understand it, the Red line is the busiest 'rail' line in the country. This should, thus, you'd expect, suit more people.

As an added plus, you certainly wouldn't need to knock down those apartments and get rid of the gym and the local swimming pool.

Mod: The Metrolink project design is complete and will not change in the way suggested.

If you wish to share your bright suggestions, then use the alternative thread for alternatives.

Do you plan on draining the Liffey to install this station box? Ignoring the other clear problems with this change.

As I recall, ABP gave permission for the sub-river station on the Metronorth plan, and I never remember any suggestions about the flow of the river.

Of course, I am happy to be corrected.

My recollection is that the plan for a sub-river station was approved, whole-heartedly, by ABP.

It got approval, right?

One bug bear I just noticed with the OCS plans - the entrance on OCS is at the northern end of the platforms. I'm surprised they don't have two entrances at both northern and southern ends of the platforms.

Seems like a missed opportunity to maximise accessibility. Something like that could (maybe?) be a relatively simple change that wouldn't constitute a major change to the plans?...

I think that's a now or never thing. We're not talking about a new entrance to a surface Dart station. It's a Metro platform deep underground.

Top left of the pic is OCS entrance. Bottom left heads out to Moore Street direction.

There's even a room labelled "Available Room" along the OCS side (top middle/right). Adding another stairs should not be overly complex. Hopefully this is the sort of condition ABP add to a very clear approval....

That available room is in a staff area it won’t be used for passengers or the public

Tara Street and Charlemont both have two entrances to the Mezzanine level, then additional stairs down to the platform levels. Tara Street platform is 2m deeper than OCS and Charlemont platform is 3.5m deeper than OCS.

If you compare the images below, you can spot a clear void in OCS station, where the second entrance is placed in Tara and Charlemont. Clearly from the other stations, it's possible from an engineering perspective. It makes no sense they excluded this from OCS.

O'Connell Street:

Tara Street:

Charlemont:

Not a dig at your comment, but that would be a shocking reason to limit OCS to one entrance at the northernmost side of the platforms.

And you're right, the length of the development site is closer to 190m. If they can fit two entrances into Charlemont with 130m to work with, it's laughable they can't on OCS.

This isn't back to the drawing board stuff. It wouldn't impact track or platform alignment. It wouldn't impact additional buildings. That entire area is going to be levelled!!

This is sensible. Spending millions and millions on station facades is what they did in New York with very little justification, so the politicians could have something to cut the Red ribbon on. Let the station develop organically should other lines make it necessary. The only "statement piece" station is Glasnevin, and that's warranted given we are building what amounts to nearly a second Connolly/Tara somewhere where it doesn't exist currently.

We're one of the few countries who have very few domestic flights.

Also our population is growing.

Just before Covid, Stobart were really thinking of reintroducing Cork - Dublin flights. Not for the direct flight, but to link into Aer Lingus' route network.

I reckon it would have worked. Check-in in Cork, up to Dublin on the flight, through pre-clearance and onto the US. Nice.