Connolly ramp removal 'not best option'

Victor

Connolly ramp removal 'not best option'
From:ireland.com
Monday, 16th June, 2003

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) decided to proceed with plans to demolish the ramp at Connolly Station to provide a terminus for the Tallaght Luas line despite being advised that it was not the best option, either financially or operationally, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor.

According to documents released by the RPA under the Freedom of Information Act, the agency's board was told that developing a Luas stop on the ramp site "no longer represents a feasible option if the planned extension to Docklands is approved".

The recommendation that this option should "no longer be considered" was made in November 2001 by the RPA's acting chief executive, Mr Donal Mangan, who is currently suing the agency over its decision to appoint Mr Frank Allen as chief executive.

Mr Mangan's report to the RPA board said the proposed Luas stop at Connolly would "not be consistent with the smooth operation" of a line serving Docklands because trams would have to reverse out after their drivers changed cabs from one end to the other.

"The proposed platform arrangement will require that trams entering the stop at Connolly Station wait and change direction before exiting to continue their journey.

"This will result in a delay to the operation of the tram and may prove confusing for passengers."

Mr Mangan also warned that there was sufficient space at the Connolly stop only for two platforms - one for eastbound and the other for westbound trams - and there would be no spare capacity for the temporary storage or layover of trams during off-peak periods.

His report noted that potential conflict between trams and other traffic at the complex junction of Amiens Street, Store Street and Mayor Street meant that it would not be possible to provide a triangular arrangement of tracks to bypass the Connolly stop.

In order to reconcile road traffic, pedestrian and tram movements at the junction, Mr Mangan said the "only practical arrangement" would be to close the main entrance to the International Financial Services Centre to road vehicles, making it a trams-only route.

He also noted that the costs associated with the development of a terminus on the site of the ramp at Connolly made it "significantly more expensive" than other route options.

Though all figures are blanked in the report, it is known that this will be in excess of €30 million.

"Demolishing the ramp and constructing the terminus is likely to result in redundant expenditure if an extension to Docklands is constructed," Mr Mangan said, adding that discussions were already underway with the Docklands Development Authority on such an extension.

The only positive elements of the proposal identified in his report was that it would provide direct access for Luas passengers to Connolly Station and could be constructed immediately, given that a light-rail order for the stop had already been approved.

On January 21st, 2002, after "an extensive examination of all the issues involved", according to RPA chairman Mr Padraig White, the board decided that the original plan to terminate the Tallaght Luas line at Connolly should be confirmed and implemented.

"Construction of the terminal stop as approved at Connolly Station does not preclude the future extension of light rail services from the Connolly terminus to the Docks area in an acceptable manner which retains all or the bulk of the ... investment made for Luas."

Mr White said the board did not consider it reasonable to defer the provision of a Luas service between Abbey Street and Connolly for an unpredictable period while seeking approval for an alternative route to Docklands.

Accordingly, it had decided to proceed with the original plan.