[Article] First look at the model metro

darkman2 · 12-05-2008 11:41am #1

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/first-look-at-the-model-metro-1372877.html

By Paul Melia

Monday May 12 2008

THIS first glimpse of the new underground Metro stations reveals a modern, sleek design at odds with reports anticipating dull, grey bunkers.

Commuters using Metro North can expect to be "amazed" at the size of the eight underground stations when it opens for business in 2013.

Contrary to suggestions the stations would be dreary, bleak and predominantly grey affairs, the Railway Procurement Agency's chief architect said that stainless steel, glass and smooth concrete would be used as finishes.

"I think people will be amazed at the size of the stations. We're trying to get as much natural light in, even down to 25 metres," he added.

Today the four consortiums bidding to build the 18km line, which could cost up to €3.2bn, will be given detailed designs with a view to making bids by the end of the year.

The consortiums are Dublin Express Link, which includes SIAC, HSBC and French Metro operators Keolis; Cathro Consortium which includes Luas operator Veolia and Siemens; Metro Express which includes AIB and Sisk; and the Celtic Metro Group, which is composed of foreign operators.

The public-private partnership project will see bidders asked to tender for the design, build, funding, maintenance and operation of the line.

The journey time between St Stephen's Green and Dublin Airport will be in the region of 20 minutes and 30 minutes from St Stephen's Green to Swords.

"It's a pretty significant milestone in terms of where the project is going," a RPA spokesman said yesterday.

"They [the bidders] will be given the detail of what they're bidding for, it's the formal detailed documents."

And the project's chief architect, Jim Quinlan, has rubbished claims the stations will be dull. Artists' impressions show bright, airy stations with some natural light.

"We're not talking about bare concrete at all. It's a very high quality spec in the stations, and we are producing an architectural design guide showing materials we would like the bidder to use.

"There's a design life for 120 years for a lot of the structures, and we don't want any painted finishes because we don't want to have to redecorate every five years.

"There'll be a lot of stainless steel, glass and fair-faced concrete. We're looking at putting advertising space on the back walls, hopefully it will be electronic signage.

"We've designed the stations to cope with demand up to 2040. Some may be a little overdesigned."

He said St Stephen's Green will have a 20 metre platform, to link to the DART line being built by Iarnrod Eireann.

www.independent.ie

Whatever happened to Frank McDonald's 'no escalators etc etc'

paulm17781 · 12-05-2008 12:04pm

Shockingly that is a considerably better article than any of Frank McDonald's. It is also positive unlike his nonsensical anti everything slant.

Lennoxschips · 12-05-2008 1:08pm

2013, dream on...

monument · 12-05-2008 1:27pm

paulm17781 wrote: »

Shockingly that is a considerably better article than any of Frank McDonald's. It is also positive unlike his nonsensical anti everything slant.

To be fair to McDonald he is very much pro the interconnector.

SeanW · 12-05-2008 1:49pm

From what I had read about "Value Engineering," I was expecting 8 grey holes in the ground with 25 metre staircases, minimal platform and ticket vending facilities, and other "M50 round 2" type of madness.

Hopefully some common sense appears to have prevailed.

road_high · 12-05-2008 3:34pm

`
Anybody else in this country sick & tired of looking at and reading about fancy new plans and images for new infrastructural projects; I wouild prefer if they'd just go build the effin things :mad:

bazzer · 12-05-2008 3:47pm

H U G E windscreen wipers!!

paulm17781 · 12-05-2008 3:51pm

mfitzy wrote: »

`
Anybody else in this country sick & tired of looking at and reading about fancy new plans and images for new infrastructural projects; I wouild prefer if they'd just go build the effin things :mad:

Was thinking the exact same. Remember how they got that chap from madrid over in 2002 to show us how to build metros quickly and cheaply? :rolleyes:

mysterious · 12-05-2008 6:19pm

Oh that's such a lovely, dazzingly looking picture..

It's sooo lovely I could put it up my wall.

But would it help Dublin's public transport system?

I'd rather be in it, than having to see another effin picture. I have seen this facking picture 4 years ago too. It was a little different, yes, but oh jesus who gives a flying elf. I mean what next a physical model version of it built next that doesn't move?! or will we be enlightened?

OFF TOPIC Newland's cross is not starting in 2008 like it said on T21 website, Its 2009 now. Closes door from behind. Btw Lovely pictures of that toooooooo.

mysterious · 12-05-2008 6:23pm

The clock is funny on it too, since when does the government put time on these things in figures? Instead they put an actual clock in the pic? conspiracy no?

They might want to check the time, and start the project

spacetweek · 12-05-2008 6:38pm

€3.2 bill seems cheap. Renders look grand. Now hurry up and build them.

Still no start date? Needs to be 2009 if they're to finish on time methinks.

So it seems they're designed for 2040. So much for the "low-capacity tram" nonsense people had been trotting out.

What's this about a 20 metre platform at Stephen's Green - presume it would have to be longer than that? Is this width or length?

flogen · 12-05-2008 6:50pm

What's the logic in having two sets of escalators right after each other? Am I missing something there or is it just to make movement easier during rush hour? Would it not make more sense to have escalators, then stairs, then a lift?

@Spacetweek - in fairness the article says the stations are being designed to cope with capacity in 2040, not the trams themselves. In other words you might be waiting forever to actually get onto a tram in a decade's time, but at least there should be enough room for all the stressed-out commuters in the station.

Heart · 12-05-2008 7:42pm

Is the tram in the picture short working to the Airport? Start as you mean to go on I suppose...

jjbrien · 12-05-2008 7:47pm

looks alot like the sheppard yonge subway in Toronto. Same design layouts etc if it is i will look forward to seeing it in action hopefully we will get it sooner rather than later

1huge1 · 12-05-2008 9:38pm

I'd be more interested in if they'd hurry up on projects around the country instead of writing this propaganda.

Polar101 · 13-05-2008 4:43pm

I'd love to travel on the metro in the picture - no crowds, no waiting time, nice stations, women in noticeably short skirts

..

I.e. compared to of packed platforms, trains leaving people behind because they are too full, and so on. And I wish they'd get on with the actual building of the thing, too.