Carnlough Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 Rail Station

DrGuy

There's a former CIE site along Carnlough Road in Cabra along the rail tracks that slated for mixed residential and commercial development. Next to that, however, is enough space to put in a commuter rail/ DART station, and I think it would be of great benefit to the local area. I've created a Facebook page for my idea, and would like to get the ball rolling on seeing this thing to fruition. I contacted the former Transport Minister TD Paschal Donohoe, who in turn contacted Irish Rail, and they're open to the idea. All we need now is enough local support.

Boulevardier

What service would stop at this station? How frequently would trains stop, and where would they take you?

MrMorooka

That site has always seemed a bit wasted alright. However as mentioned, it is on an awkward line, between Heuston(but not really, skirts around the edge) and Connolly. There is a service opening on the line this year though, so if there was a station it might provide at least a peak time service to Grand Canal Dock. You'd have to model the demand for that to justify a station build.

Also, are you aware that a Luas stop is opening a bit less than a kilometre away in 2018? That is probably a better public transport option.

DrGuy

@Boulevardier: It would be along the new service that's slated to open to Connolly and the Grand Canal Docks. It would help those trying to reach those areas.

@MrMorooka: It depends on where you're headed. I personally prefer commuter rail or DART to Luas/ light rail, and it's independent of car traffic.

DrGuy

From this thread: new service from Kildare to Grand Canal Docks via Phoenix Park Tunnel.

LXFlyer

I would imagine that they will want to get the service up and running first before going down the road of opening new stations. That will ultimately be the NTA's call. They call the shots on how transport funding is dished out.

Service level will only be one train per hour off-peak and 2-3 trains per hour at peak.

DrGuy

@lxflyer, that's still better than nothing, and hopefully service can be expanded afterwards.

schemingbohemia

It's on the Phoenix Park Tunnel route to Connolly - you're not going to get a DART there (until whenever electrification of the Kildare & Maynooth lines happens). They may well all be open to the idea but I wouldn't think there would be funding for it. Is the 120 bus service that bad to need an occasional train service to Connolly and Grand Canal Dock?

Carawaystick

schemingbohemia wrote: »

It's on the Phoenix Park Tunnel route to Connolly - you're not going to get a DART there (until whenever electrification of the Kildare & Maynooth lines happens). They may well all be open to the idea but I wouldn't think there would be funding for it. Is the 120 bus service that bad to need an occasional train service to Connolly and Grand Canal Dock?

Does the 120 serve Connolly or Pearse?

LXFlyer

Carawaystick wrote: »

Does the 120 serve Connolly or Pearse?

Three journeys leave passengers within walking distance of Pearse in the mornings and three pass outside it in the evening.

The rest of the trips are within walking distance of Connolly.

Boulevardier

I do not have a map of the route to hand, but is there any point on that line which could leave people near (or near-ish) to the new DIT Grangegorman campus? That would be a real plus.

uck51js9zml2yt

There will be a rail station at dowth avenue in the next while.
Another one on carnlough is overkill.

LXFlyer

Peter Damaged Crawfish wrote: »

There will be a rail station at dowth avenue in the next while.
Another one on carnlough is overkill.

That's not a railway station - it's a LUAS stop.

LXFlyer

Boulevardier wrote: »

I do not have a map of the route to hand, but is there any point on that line which could leave people near (or near-ish) to the new DIT Grangegorman campus? That would be a real plus.

Nothing particularly close - Heuston would be as close to be honest.

uck51js9zml2yt

lxflyer wrote: »

That's not a railway station - it's a LUAS stop.

It will transport people into and out of Cabra. Why do we need a "train" station in carnlough?

Tombo2001

What is this doing that the Luas wont do?

LXFlyer

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What is this doing that the Luas wont do?

The railway line is linking Kildare line stations with Drumcondra, Connolly, Tara St, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock.

The LUAS will leave people from Cabra within walking distance of Connolly, Tara St and Pearse.

LXFlyer

Peter Damaged Crawfish wrote: »

It will transport people into and out of Cabra. Why do we need a "train" station in carnlough?

Well firstly it's a railway station, not a "train" station.

Personally I don't see the need, particularly once the LUAS is up and running (given that this line will never be high frequency), but to be fair it could open up journey opportunities for people who wish to travel to/from stations along the Kildare line.

uck51js9zml2yt

lxflyer wrote: »

Well firstly it's a railway station, not a "train" station.

Personally I don't see the need, particularly once the LUAS is up and running (given that this line will never be high frequency), but to be fair it could open up journey opportunities for people who wish to travel to/from stations along the Kildare line.

Last time I looked, I took trains from "railway" stations:D

ArmaniJeanss

Boulevardier wrote: »

I do not have a map of the route to hand, but is there any point on that line which could leave people near (or near-ish) to the new DIT Grangegorman campus? That would be a real plus.

Here in Phibsboro/Glasnevin might be suitable. Seems to be space on either side of the road for some sort of railwaystation construction. For Grangegorman it would be a straight walk of 1100 metres to the Luas Stop that is called 'Grangegorman', and then I think a bit more to the actual campus. Not sure whether that qualifies as 'near-ish' for you!

Would probably be a well-used station in its own right anyway.

Cravens

It'll take people directly to Clondalkin and other SouthWestern suburbs of Dublin as well as all stops to Portlaoise.

thomasj

I'm sorry but this screams of parish pump politics nothing more.

This area already has numerous bus routes, and the luas is on its way. Broombridge is also near by walking or bus or luas.

Broombridge is one stop away from drumcondra which serves as a interchange for Kildare services and the luas interchange at broombridge will provide connection to dit etc.

I thought the point of the tunnel was to get Kildare line users to the city as quick as possible. Adding unnecessary stops to the route is not going to help.

cgcsb

I think the more important project would be a new station at Phibsboro/Glasnevin at the bridge by the porter house. And of course electrification of the Maynooth line and removal of remaining level crossings.

DrGuy

A few comments:
1. Yes, the area is well-served by bus lines, and yes, the Luas will not be far away. That's not the point- those are slower services that do not operate independent of road traffic. This station would cut commute times for local residents who may need to travel farther and could help cut traffic congestion in the area.
2. The Broombridge station is quite problematic, thanks to antisocial behavior around the area. It doesn't provide the required services that should be available on a rail station, and I wouldn't be surprised if some residents avoid the station for that reason. Also, switching from Broombridge to the Kildare lines at Drumcondra would actually be quite annoying for people wishing to use the service.
3. I think infill stations at both Carnlough Road and Glasnevin are good ideas. A Glasnevin station would allow for a better switch between Maynooth and M3 Parkway-bound lines, and help ease some of the pressure for events at Croke Park.
4. Infill stations are relatively cheap to build, and they give local residents better access to cross-country transportation services.

LXFlyer

DrGuy wrote: »

A few comments:
1. Yes, the area is well-served by bus lines, and yes, the Luas will not be far away. That's not the point- those are slower services that do not operate independent of road traffic. This station would cut commute times for local residents who may need to travel farther and could help cut traffic congestion in the area.
2. The Broombridge station is quite problematic, thanks to antisocial behavior around the area. It doesn't provide the required services that should be available on a rail station, and I wouldn't be surprised if some residents avoid the station for that reason. Also, switching from Broombridge to the Kildare lines at Drumcondra would actually be quite annoying for people wishing to use the service.
3. I think infill stations at both Carnlough Road and Glasnevin are good ideas. A Glasnevin station would allow for a better switch between Maynooth and M3 Parkway-bound lines, and help ease some of the pressure for events at Croke Park.
4. Infill stations are relatively cheap to build, and they give local residents better access to cross-country transportation services.

Bear in mind that the Broombridge site is about to be transformed with the new LUAS depot - it certainly won't be anywhere near as intimidating as it is now.

Also providing a station at Glasnevin is not straightforward due to clearance issues. It maybe something that could be delivered in the future but it won't be an easy fix!

Tombo2001

Is there any reason why this station would be less intimidating than Broombridge?

Is the issue with Broombridge to do with local yobs who have nowhere else to go - which would equally apply to a new station? Or is it something less obvious.....

DrGuy

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Is there any reason why this station would be less intimidating than Broombridge?

Is the issue with Broombridge to do with local yobs who have nowhere else to go - which would equally apply to a new station? Or is it something less obvious.....

I'm thinking that Carnlough Road is a much more trafficked area- Broombridge is only close to the industrial estate and the canal.

MrMorooka

Incidentally, there used to be a station at Glasnevin.



Now, whether there is room these days for a full length platform and modern requirements etc, is a separate issue.

trellheim

We did a look at this some months ago; there is just space on the bend where the PPT line dives under the Midland/LUAS overbridge , beside the canal and the Maynooth line. this would allow three modes of interchange ( LUAS to two different rail lines )

Slight crayoning but would offer the fastest method of Kildare to Grangegorman , only 1 change onto a LUAS

DrGuy

I don't think rebuilding the station there would be ideal- it would be better slightly to the west along Royal Canal Way at the convergence of the different rail lines.

DrGuy

trellheim wrote: »

We did a look at this some months ago; there is just space on the bend where the PPT line dives under the Midland/LUAS overbridge , beside the canal and the Maynooth line. this would allow three modes of interchange ( LUAS to two different rail lines )

Slight crayoning but would offer the fastest method of Kildare to Grangegorman , only 1 change onto a LUAS

Judging by the length of the Drumcondra station, it would be a tight fit there. What I would like to see there, however, would be a pedestrian and cycle bridge and path to connect Cabra and ultimately Phoenix Park to the Royal Canal Towpath.

McAlban

MrMorooka wrote: »

Incidentally, there used to be a station at Glasnevin.

Now, whether there is room these days for a full length platform and modern requirements etc, is a separate issue.

I wonder why it was all but totally removed tbh. It seems to be a unique station built on limited land to begin with.
Glasnevin was a village when built, but when the development of the Carroll estate from 1914 on-wards this would be a prime location for a station. The track alignment has changed and the buildings on the south side of Lindsay Grove are built in on the old embankment. Not to mention the entrance of the Station is now the keg room of the Porterhouse.

A Station here would link up well with a lot of bus services on the R108.

ChannelNo5

The passenger demand for a station at the old cement works just isnt there and when built, the Luas stop will be a short walk away. the area already has several good transport links to the city and as already mentioned the appeal of the new route is to provide a reasonably fast route for Kildare line commuters into the south city business district. A station at cabra will add time onto the journey for very limited return.

Also a good portion of the land at the cement works has been sold for redevelopment.