[JupiterKid]

I had some time to kill this afternoon so I decided to take the LUAS all the way out to Brides Glen. I'd never travelled on the extended section beyond Sandyford.

I noticed that on the Green line extension there are 2 "ghost" stops - one near Carrickmines and another near Laughanstown. I presume they were put there with development of the vicinity in mind. But they are puzzling as they are located very close to existing stops and it looks like it will be a long time before they open to passengers.

What do others make of these "ghost" stops along the LUAS green line?

[Poxyshamrock]

Does the Luas stop there or does it just pass through?

[MYOB]

Originally Posted by Poxyshamrock

Does the Luas stop there or does it just pass through?

At least in the early days they did actually stop there (and then start again almost instantly), but the doors don't open - they aren't active stops, there's not full infrastructure there, no ticketing machines, etc.

[JupiterKid]

Originally Posted by Poxyshamrock

Does the Luas stop there or does it just pass through?

It just passed through but it did slow down as it approached the passed the stops. I can understand if they were built with future development in mind, but they are located very close to functional stops and I doubt they will be operational for a very long time given that the liklihood of development around them is minimal in the current economic climate.

The final stop on the Green line extension at Brides Glen is elevated by about 40 feet above ground - but the immediate area has a very unfinished look of an abandoned development site. The Green line extension also crosses over the M50 twice.

[Zebra3]

Originally Posted by JupiterKid

The Green line extension also crosses over the M50 twice.

Really? Seems very odd.

[Aard]

Originally Posted by Zebra3

Really? Seems very odd.

That part of the M50 is radial rather than orbital.


WRT ghost stops, the only one I don't get is the Racecourse. Presumably, it'll only be used for special events, and surely for those the Carrickmines stop would have sufficed? It's only 250 meters away, about a three minutes' walk.

[JupiterKid]

It really does seem that these "ghost" LUAS stops were poorly planned - they are very close to functional stops and must have cost the exchequer quite a bit to build. You can also see them on the linear route map inside the trams.

The part of the M50 that the LUAS Green line crosses twice is a radial section - the South Eastern Motorway. Basically LUAS crosses it to serve the Stepaside/Glencairn area that has seen a lot of recent housing development and then crosses back to serve Cherrywood.

As for the ghost stops - will they become functional anytime soon? Or have they become another example of money wasted?

[Aard]

@JupiterKid

The Brennanstown stop will become functional once the development of the area between the M50 and the N11 is done. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown have the local area plan drawn up, so I guess it's just a case of waiting for an upturn in construction.

I don't know whether or not it made sense to build the stops from the start if they were not going to be used immediately. I'd imagine though that there was an economy of scale thing going on. The other Luas stops have held up pretty well since the beginning, so I'm sure the ghost stops will be in fine working order. It's just a matter of when!

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Aard

That part of the M50 is radial rather than orbital.


WRT ghost stops, the only one I don't get is the Racecourse. Presumably, it'll only be used for special events, and surely for those the Carrickmines stop would have sufficed? It's only 250 meters away, about a three minutes' walk.

Ha! That's the excuse that a RPA staff members irately told me (seems to be a touchy point with them). It's true that the M50 is radial but the section you're referring to is effectively a straight line. Just look at the route map here.

The real reason you have such a route and ghost stations is that the Green line extension is developer led infrastructure and not properly planned infrastructure. Granted the original rail line route along the racecourse was seemingly "unavailable".

Also why is there constant reference to Cherrywood on the announcements when the destinations are Brides Glen or Sandyford?

[pigtown]

Never been on the green line and don't know the area but is this not just a case of forward planning? If these areas are earmarked for future development then the stops will be needed at some point. Surely the RPA should be congratulated for thinking ahead?

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by pigtown

Never been on the green line and don't know the area but is this not just a case of forward planning? If these areas are earmarked for future development then the stops will be needed at some point. Surely the RPA should be congratulated for thinking ahead?

But still ultimately driven by developers and rezoning. It should be tied in with the development plan for the city and not the developers plan. So it's not really forward planning it's following the money which may nor be the best use of either public funds or how a good transport network should evolve.

Certainly, good infrastructural planning is not without it's downside either. You can end up with infrastructure that is too early or too late.

[bbuzz]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Granted the original rail line route along the racecourse was seemingly "unavailable".

I'm sorry but your wrong there, the reason the Luas goes up towards Ballyogan is because that is where the demand is. Who in Foxrock is going to get the Luas? The extension was planned very, all meant to tie in with development that had planning permission or that was already built. But unfortunately that development hasn't happened yet.

To be fair, DLR will probably be one if the first counties that construction will start again. And the DLR county plan was always to expand in and around Cherrywood and Carrickmines. IMO it's refreshing that for once the infrastructure is in place before the development.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by bbuzz

I'm sorry but your wrong there, the reason the Luas goes up towards Ballyogan is because that is where the demand is. Who in Foxrock is going to get the Luas? The extension was planned very, all meant to tie in with development that had planning permission or that was already built. But unfortunately that development hasn't happened yet.

To be fair, DLR will probably be one if the first counties that construction will start again. And the DLR county plan was always to expand in and around Cherrywood and Carrickmines. IMO it's refreshing that for once the infrastructure is in place before the development.

I think you'll find I'm right. The land was unavailable so an alt route required.

At the same time the demand you refer to is developer driven demand. I don't doubt it was well planned to fit in with the developers and where the levies could be obtained. Plus teh madness continues as the line will wander out to Bray.

Yes anybody who owns land up there is delighted that they have publicly funded infrastructure available to them.

Ah, the lands in Carrickmines ... always a talking point.

[bbuzz]

So where was it "unavailable" then?

Look at Google maps, you can still clearly see the track bed, and surprise surprise it's still there, just like it was from the canal to Sandyford.

[Winters]

I agree with Brian D.

The crux of our planning problems stem from zoning and land use & transportation planning being driven NOT by location and suitability of land but rather than by who owns it.

Glencairn and Ballyogan are prime examples of this.

We can blame the developers and it's certainly easier to do so but the real culprits are the local authority planners, councillors and the DoE.

I split it between 20% corruption and 80% just plain incompetency.

Originally Posted by bbuzz

So where was it "unavailable" then?

Look at Google maps, you can still clearly see the track bed, and surprise surprise it's still there, just like it was from the canal to Sandyford.

The land was and is available. We were just told it wasn't.