HUNDREDS of thousands of commuters face chaos and walks of up to 1.3km to and from their bus stops every day in Dublin city centre.
The decision to link the two existing Luas lines in the city centre with another one is being blamed for the predicted imminent transport nightmare. As many as 60m bus passengers will be affected, according to a confidential report by Dublin Bus which has been obtained by the Irish Independent. It reveals that the Luas line is expected to cause major headaches for bus commuters into and out of the capital every day.
The company fears that it will lose 10m passengers not prepared to put up with the extra hassle to access their normal bus stops. It predicts there will be "chaos" as a result of the new Luas Line BX linking the Tallaght and Sandyford Luas lines between St Stephen's Green and O'Connell St.
Bus stops for most of the busiest routes in the city centre will have to be moved during the construction of the line, expected to start next year.
This means that passengers will face extra walks of up to 1.3km which will take them at least 12 minutes and cause major inconvenience.
Among the services affected will be those from Leeson Street/Stillorgan Road QBC (Route 46A, Dun Laoghaire; 46B, Kilmacud; 145 and 85X, Bray; 117/118, Kilgobbin).
Bus stops currently at Dawson St/Nassau St/Trinity College/Westmoreland St, O Connell St and Parnell Square will have to be moved to Westland Row/Lombard St/Tara St/Gardiner St and to a terminus at Mountjoy Square when works starts on the new Luas line.
Also affected will be services from Rathmines, Ballinteer, Terenure, Knocklyon. These currently serves Dawson St/Nassau St/Trinity College/Westmoreland St. But they will be moved to Westland Row/Lombard St/Tara St/Gardiner St.
A total of 9.8m passengers will be affected every year for at least three years.
In a detailed assessment of possible impacts, Dublin Bus says that "ongoing changes and diversions to bus routes and bus stops in the city centre will result in a loss of bus passengers.
"Any positive benefits achieved from the investment in buses under Transport 21 are likely to be cancelled out," the company warns.
"Dublin Bus estimates that the disruptive effects could reduce customer numbers by 10m passengers per annum," the company warns.
The disruption will take place at the same time as considerable investment is taking place under the Government's Transport 21 investment programme, which includes the extension of the QBC network.
The Luas link-up line, costing €100m will run from St Stephen's Green, down Dawson St, left into Nassau St, right past the front of TCD into Westmoreland St.
Then it will continue as a single line going across the central median of O'Connell Bridge, up O'Connell St, right into Cathal Brugha St, down Marlboro St, across Abbey St, across the Liffey via a new bridge, along Hawkins St. It will then rejoin the double line past TCD.
But Dublin Bus is concerned at the chaos that will be caused to its bus services in the area, which provides vital arteries for many major routes.
About 14pc of Dublin Bus customers are senior citizens and these will be badly affected. The possible diversions and loss of bus stops will affect those who have mobility impairments and who require low-floor, accessible bus services.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
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