Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

The problem with this argument is that you're implying that the OPW have had no issues with mismanageing the Phoenix Park so they should now have no issues with mismanageing Stephen's Green.

They're in charge of the Green. They wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't raise an objection to the biggest most destructive project to likely ever impact it.

I'm of the opinion that the disruption is worth it, but I fully defend their point of view

I know it's ten years (minimum!) away, but it's exciting that it's come to this stage, and no major road blocks have been identified. When I saw mention of an historic pub needing to be demolished, I thought "Oh no, if its the Brazen Head, it will never happen".

Apparently a number of residents of Ranelagh have raised concerns about it "bringing down the atmosphere of the area", or some such rubbish. Last time I was in Ranelagh it was indistinguishable from many other areas on the south side, with many of the same usual eateries.

Just FYI that TII have uploaded a load of new documents under the heading "Documents submitted during Oral Hearing" to the project website. https://www.metrolinkro.ie/

It includes almost all of the additional information that the planning inspector asked TII for, and which TII presented to the oral hearing this morning. Mostly how in the last 507 days since the application was lodged there have been lots of changes to policy documents, strategy documents and legislation, and do any of those changes affect the environmental analysis done within the original planning application. The answer is no, not really But they have redone and resubmitted chapters of the environmental analysis showing things like if you re-run the traffic analysis using the 2022-2042 Dublin Transport Strategy vs the 2016-2035 Dublin Transport Strategy they used in the original submission the traffic impacts and passenger counts in the metro are practically the same or slightly better now.

Also Fingal County Council really screwed over TII a little by adding "Santry Lodge" to the record of protected structures a few months ago, a building that wasn't protected before now as and that building's original gatehouse and boundary wall are being knocked for the metro link tunnel portal and bridge over the M50. You can read more about that here: https://downloads.metrolink.ie/oh/Witness%20Statement%20of%20Rob%20Goodbody.pdf

The submissions from FCC, DCC and NTA today we're all pretty short and super supportive of the project, talking about the collaboration over the last few years and how ML is vital for their strategic plans.

The fun will start tomorrow with the theatre of Senator Michael McDowell and other public representatives.

Ranelagh is a cracking neighbourhood, what are you on about?

(I don’t agree with the objectors fyi)

That's in the original submission. Buried deep in Append A5.5: Glasnevin Construction Report: https://downloads.metrolink.ie/documentsro/A5.5%20Glasnevin%20Construction%20Report.pdf From page 15:

There's lots of diagrams in that document outlining the 14 step construction process that are worth skimming through IMHO.

From those who don't speak train geek:

• GWSR is the old Great Western and Southern Railway. Closure of 5 months. This is the upper line that connects the Phoenix Park Tunnel and Maynooth Railway lines through Drumcondra Station to either Connolly or Docklands.
• MGWR is the old Midlands Great Western Railway. Closure of 21 months. This is the lower line that runs along the canal and under Croke Park. It only really connects to Docklands station.

There is an engineering link railway from the MGWR into Connolly station from but as far I know no scheduled train service uses that section of railway. MetroLink does include a railway junction between to the west of Glasnevin station to allow both Phoenix Park Tunnel trains and Maynooth trains use either GSWR or the MGWR. Currently Phoenix Park tunnel trains can only use the GSWR but with that junction those Phoenix Park Tunnel trains could get to Docklands for the 5 months the GSWR is closed at a minimum.

One railway line will always be open to traffic. IMHO the GWSR line is way more useful so it being closed for the shorter period is a good choice. 5 months is a long while but if you can at least still get a train to Docklands it wouldn't be the end of the world, particularly if done using mostly summer months.

I suspect the plans involve a number of weekend closures of the railway too. But headlines figures are 5 months and 21 months but not at the same time.

Edit: just to note that the EIAR construction reports are always worst case estimates. They need to do an environmental impact assessment on the worst possible case scenario. Irish Rail in their submission to MetroLink think the closures will likely be shorter than TII is predicting the EIAR.

Edit 2: There is another set of top-down visuals on the construction of Glasnevin station on pages 100-113 of report A5.3 Construction Sequencing Report: https://downloads.metrolink.ie/documentsro/A5.3%20Construction%20Sequence%20Report.pdf

"There is an engineering link railway from the MGWR into Connolly station from but as far I know no scheduled train service uses that section of railway."

Not currently, but it is available for passenger service; rather than being engineering only. There was one train a day using it until a few years ago; but recently enough I have been on an emergency passenger use - something fell on to the line after a train left Docklands that required reversing and use of it.

A substantial number of people connect to Swords Road buses at Drumcondra which would be discommoded by Maynooth services only serving Docklands/Connolly in the interim - DCU students being a major element of that. An extended five month Summer would either hit exams or hit the start of the next year; as well as airport traffic but doing it during the college year is also not a great option.

Is there any good twitter heads to follow for live updates from the oral hearing?

Yep. And yet he manages to get on public platforms constantly criticising the project without ever having to declare his interest. It is fundamentally anti democratic.

Except for Michael McDowells troglodytic presence

God I wish that would cause him to stop trying to fvck things up for younger generations but he seems to have never heard or understand the quote that "A society grows great when old men plant trees under which they will never sit". McDowell is 72, at this stage in his life hes literally just trying to stop any trees being planted at all to enhance his own selfish interests even beyond his death. That moron McCarthy is exactly the same but god knows why hes doing it beyond being a miserly curmudgeon who refuses to acknowledge he is ever wrong.

That is absolutely baffling reasoning, they seem to be really getting desperate now

Christ, that is equal parts and annoying and worrying. Either they are deliberately being difficult or they actually have zero clue or sense. Part of me thinks they should be fined for this. Surely an objection must have some merit rooted in common sense or genuine concern. The cost involved in facilitating this rubbish must be significant, let alone the time delays it puts on projects.

Are they under the mistaken understanding that the terminus is the only other station on the route and it just goes from charlemont to the airport?