Transport authority board did not review Government Metro announcement

The board of the National Transport Authority (NTA) did not review the announcement by the Government of the new MetroLink project before it was published last month. The €3 billion MetroLink is a central element of the Government’s new infrastructure programme. Minutes just published of a recent NTA board meeting also appear to show support at the board for the Dart Underground project, funding for which was not included in the recent 10-year Government programme. The NTA said that details announced by the Government last month as part of its investment programme were reviewed by NTA management but not the board. In response to queries it said that the board would review the final selected route and project after a public consultation programme now under way. A spokesman also said the board had been updated regularly on progress on the Metro plan, including details of the emerging preferred route, announced on March 22nd.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

'Over budget, over time, over and over again' - the curse of thinking too big

Last Thursday saw the release by the National Transport Authority (NTA) of the preferred routing for the next addition to the Dublin tram system, formerly called Metro North and re-christened MetroLink. This will be an expansion of capacity on the existing Green line from Sandyford in the south of the city and a new line, much of it underground, through the city centre and on northwards to the airport and Swords. The trams will be bigger than those originally ordered for the Red and Green lines but will operate on the same gauge of track, narrower than mainline or suburban rail. They will squeeze in 500 passengers, mainly standing, when fully loaded, versus around 300 for the shorter first-generation Luas trams. Suburban trains are bigger and can take 1,000 passengers or even more. Total cost for MetroLink is estimated at €3,000m, which would make it easily the most expensive single project ever undertaken in Ireland.

Read the full article @ Irish Independent

Two alternative route options being examined

There are two locations along the route where an alternative option for MetroLink is under consideration. The first of these is between Fosterstown Station and Estuary Station and the second is between Northwood Station and Airport Station. As an alternative to the current route between Fosterstown and Estuary Stations, which runs on an elevated structure along the central median of the R132, further consideration is being given to running the majority of the route at surface level along the central median of the R132, with grade separation at Estuary, Seatown, Malahide and Pinnock Hill roundabouts.  As an alternative to the current route between Northwood and Airport Stations, which runs in tunnel beneath the M50, further consideration is being given to a route which emerges from tunnel at Northwood Station, passes over the M50 to the proposed future station at Dardistown and re-enters the tunnel immediately south of old airport road.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

Clarity on Metrolink route and timelines hailed by council chief

Fingal County Council will work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland over the coming months to ensure that the final design is the one best suited to Fingal and the Metro Economic Corridor.  Following the announcement of the preferred route for the long-awaited metro link, which will carry passengers from Swords to the city centre in just 25 minutes, Fingal County Council CEO Paul Reid said 'clarity' on the route and timelines was welcome. Furthermore, Mr Reid welcomed the commencement of the public consultation phase on the project, which he said had the 'potential to deliver on Project Ireland 2040's vision for future growth and development in Swords and the wider Fingal area'. He said: "Fingal County Council has long advocated the strategic need for a metro link from Dublin City Centre to the Airport, Swords and North County Dublin and today's announcement is welcome as it has brought some clarity in relation to the route and timelines.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

€3 billion metro line is finally moving forward

The €3 billion euro Metrolink project which will connect Swords to the city centre in just 25 minutes, is finally moving forward after years of delays. Details of the emerging preferred routes have been revealed and an extensive public consultation process will begin next week on the 'high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor'. The first takes place today (Tuesday) at Fingal County Council offices in Swords from 2pm to 8pm. On Thursday, March 29, there will be another one in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Northwood from 2pm to 8pm. Some 4,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Formerly known as Metro North but now renamed Metrolink, the proposal will see a 26km rail line connect Swords to Sandyford, via Dublin Airport, with a total of 25 stops. Provision has been made for a future stop at Dardistown.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

Homeowner learns from media her house may be acquired for MetroLink

A woman whose home may have to be demolished because of the planned new MetroLink rail line has accused Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) of behaving “disgracefully” in their contacts with affected homeowners. Margaret Gallery, who bought her Ranelagh, Dublin, home a year ago and is currently renovating it, said she learned more from an article in The Irish Times than she did from a “vague” letter she received that merely mentioned upgrades to the line. What was in The Irish Times “isn’t at all what they said to me”, she added. “It said nothing about widening it or about compulsory purchases of gardens or houses.” She received the missive on the day the project was launched last week.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Dublin residents asked for feedback on plan for €3bn Metrolink line

A public consultation is beginning on the proposed €3bn Dublin Metrolink. Once operational, in 2027, the service will be able to carry around 30,000 people an hour in both directions. Some 4,000 jobs are set to be created during construction. Metro Link will run predominantly underground linking Swords to Dublin Airport, and then through the city centre to Charlemont, at which point it will take over the Luas line south to Sandyford. This is the preferred route, but there will be at least seven public meetings starting next week, where locals can have their say, and learn how it affects them. Na Fianna GAA club and Home Farm football club will both be affected during construction, while Metro Link project director Aidan Foley said that around 100 properties will also be affected in Glasnevin, Tara St and Charlemont.

Read the full article @ www.breakingnews.ie

Details of public consultation events available here.

Metrolink - public consultation events - locations, dates & times

A number of public consultation events are planned following identification of a preferred route for Metrolink. Submissions are sought in relation to the route and alignment options.

Public consultation meetings will be held in separate venues near to the proposed scheme.

Public consultations are currently planned for the following locations, dates and times:

Tuesday 27/3/2018, Fingal County Council Offices, Swords, 2pm - 8pm

Thursday 29/03/2018, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry, 2pm - 8pm

Wednesday 04/04/2018, Wood Quay Venue at Dublin City Council Offices, 2pm - 8pm

Thursday 05/04/2018, Glasnevin Museum Trust, 2pm - 8pm

Monday 09/04/2018, The Helix , Collins Avenue, Dublin 8, 2pm - 8pm

Monday 16/4/2018, Hilton Hotel, Charlemont, Dublin 6, 2pm - 8pm

Wednesday 18/04/2018, Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, 2pm - 8pm

To record your intent to attend one or more of these events click here to register.

Capital plan Dublin MetroLink finalised plans revealed by Irish transport chiefs which will see 26km route connecting Swords to Sandyford

Irish transport chiefs have today revealed their finalised plans for Dublin MetroLink – which will see a 26 kilometre route connecting Swords, Dublin Airport, the city centre and Sandyford, carrying 50 million passengers per year. The €3billion project was announced in the Government’s 10-year capital investment plan and its to be build and operating by 2027. And the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have announced the timeline for plans. They reveal that the Metro Link will join the Luas green line at Charlemont. The existing line from Charlemont to Sandyford will be upgraded for the Metro line. And then from Sandyford, the Luas will continue to Bride’s Glen.

Read the full article @ The Sun

Details of MetroLink emerging preferred route announced - Transport Infrastructure Ireland's press release

National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are announcing details of the Emerging Preferred Route for MetroLink, the metro service that will run from Estuary north of Swords to Sandyford on the southside, serving Dublin Airport and the City Centre.

Public consultation on the project gets under way immediately with MetroLink scheduled to be operational in 2027.

The Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (2016-2035) envisaged a rail link from the south city centre to Swords. It also envisaged the upgrading of Luas Green Line to metro standard, which would link up to the metro services running north to the airport and beyond, to provide Dublin with “a high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor”.

Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, Metro North and Metro South will now proceed as one project known as MetroLink.

Consultation on the project commences next week with a series of information events for communities along the route taking place at local level. There are information evenings organised for areas such as Swords, Ballymun, Dublin City, Glasnevin, Ranelagh and Leopardstown.

National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham said: “There are very significant benefits associated with MetroLink, particularly in terms of the integrated transport system that it will bring about for Dublin.

“For example, thanks to MetroLink, there will finally be a rail link to Dublin Airport, and with easy interchange with other modes including bus, Dart and commuter rail, MetroLink will make it easier than ever to move into and around the capital.

“There will be 25 stations in total, 15 of them brand new, so it will also make sustainable transport a viable option for more and more people in areas like Swords and Ballymun.

“We have modelled future passenger numbers and we predict that capacity for 15,000 passengers per direction per hour during the busiest peak times will be required along this corridor. We don’t believe that a bus system or a standard Luas line would be able to accommodate that number of passengers and that is why MetroLink makes so much sense.

“MetroLink will have the capacity for 30 trains per hour in each direction, so there is no doubt that it will greatly enhance the public transport offering in Dublin.

“In addition, we envisage the creation of about 4,000 jobs during construction, which is very significant for the economy in the region.”

Transport Infrastructure Ireland CEO Michael Nolan said: “Really what today is all about is the launch of the consultation process for MetroLink, because we want to make sure that people at local level have a say.

“What we are publishing here is the ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ (EPR), rather than the final route. Having examined in detail the various alignments and options, the EPR is the one that we feel is the best fit for the project. But we remain open to looking at other proposals, and if people or communities feel there are better ways of doing it, we will of course be happy to consider any alternatives put forward.”

Anticipated timeline:

2018 – Consultation on Emerging Preferred Route

2019 – Application for a Railway Order

2020 – Granting of Railway Order

2021 – Construction commences

2027 – MetroLink becomes operable

More info: www.metrolink.ie

National Transport Authority outlines €3bn underground Metro plan

Plans for a €3bn underground Metro service in Dublin have been announced by the National Transport Authority. NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham said the 26km track should be operational by 2027 if it succeeds in the planning process. The line will run from Sandyford in south Dublin to beyond Swords in north Dublin and also take in Dublin Airport. The Metro would travel overground from Sandyford to Charlemont where it will go underground to the airport. The Luas Green line would shuttle between Brides Glen and Sandyford and from Charlemont to Broombridge.

Read the article @ The Irish Times

Metro economic value to exceed construction cost of up to €4bn

The new Dublin Metro will cost between €3 billion and €4 billion but will deliver a much higher level of economic benefits, according to a cost/benefit analysis undertaken on the project. The analysis, undertaken by French engineering and consultancy company Systra – and just published on the MetroLink site – estimates the benefits of the investment would be between 2.4 and three times the cost, mainly due to savings on passenger journey times. However a leading economist has cautioned that the scale of the benefits depends crucially on population growth along the planned route. 

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Dublin's Metrolink will only go north - south until at least 2035

DUBLIN WILL NOT get an orbital metro system until at least after 2035 – because there isn’t the passenger demand. The country’s transport bodies yesterday announced the “emerging preferred route” for the Metrolink – a combination of the former Metro North and South plans. However, the plan does not envisage the system going west of the city, with these areas set to be serviced by electrified rail lines running Dart trains and an improved bus service. The Metro West plan, first announced in 2005, was nixed in 2011 due to a lack of funding. In 2016 it was excluded from the Transport Strategy For The Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 and was not included in the government capital spending plan announced last month.

Read the full article @ thejournal.ie