Irish Rail Future Outlined and No Dart Underground Mentioned?

ClovenHoof

Interesting piece into today IndoRag about how the chairman of Irish Rail wants to electrify the Maynooth Line ASAP and put the Northern Line on the long finger. Wants a fleet of diesel-electric hybrid DMUs to operate within and beyond the DART network, as well as electrify the Dublin-Belfast and Dublin-Cork lines.

Naturally none of this will come to pass, but I did find it interesting reading between the lines that there was zero mention of the Dart Underground. So we can probably take it as a given that project is now history. Unless it was mentioned and the IndoRag did not print it?

bk

Article here:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-rail-plans-move-to-electrichybrid-fleet-35892464.html

Mutant z

I wouldnt hold my breath of any of this coming to fruition.

bk

Well some of it is definitely happening:

- The tender for the refurbishment of the 2700's is on
- The tender for 41 new ICR carriages is being prepared
- The tender for refurbishment of engines in ongoing.

Of course these are all the relatively easy and obvious improvements. The electrifications are much more pie in the sky stuff. In particular Cork to Belfast.

The funny thing is the article is trying to make out they are going all environmentally friendly and electric. While in reality of the things actually happening they are actually just extending the existing Diesel fleet for another 20 to 30 years and kicking electrification down the track!

end of the road

i can't see any electrification of anything happening any time soon.
41 new ICR cars while welcome won't change the fact they are unsuited to suburban services (i presume that is mostly the reason they are being ordered)

goingnowhere

2700 units are for Suburban services.

We still have commuter units appearing on Rosslare, Sligo and Tralee services, so more ICR stock is needed

end of the road

goingnowhere wrote: »

2700 units are for Suburban services.

We still have commuter units appearing on Rosslare, Sligo and Tralee services

oh believe me, i'm well aware of that. i'm probably one of the most vocal on here in relation to that problem.

goingnowhere wrote: »

so more ICR stock is needed

it is, however my understanding is it's not complete units but intermediat cars that are being ordered. while nice they won't help the situation of suburban units on long distance services.

L1011

Maynooth over Balbriggan for electrification is sensible in that Maynooth would benefit the most from the acceleration properties of electric trains due to more, closer stations and an extremely poor alignment. Northern Line would benefit most from more passing loops / partial quad tracking on the inner sections with electrification bringing limited further benefits.

BowSideChamp

My solution:

-Extend the docklands rail line across the Samuel Beckett bridge and up the quays to Tara street.

-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

- Capcity across the loop line bridge reduced allowing all commuter trains from Huestion to go through Phoenix Park tunnel to the city centre

- thereby no need for Dart Underground that will cost €billions and will never get green lit

- samuel beckett bridge already built for light rail

ClovenHoof

BowSideChamp wrote: »

My solution:

-Extend the docklands rail line across the Samuel Beckett bridge and up the quays to Tara street.

-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

- Capcity across the loop line bridge reduced allowing all commuter trains from Huestion to go through Phoenix Park tunnel to the city centre

- thereby no need for Dart Underground that will cost €billions and will never get green lit

- samuel beckett bridge already built for light rail

Including the fact that your Broad Guage Maynooth Luas would have to change gauge to use the already existing Samuel Beckett Bridge tracks, let me be the first to congratulate you on finding the missing link between a Rollercoaster and Rail Transport.

LXFlyer

goingnowhere wrote: »

2700 units are for Suburban services.

We still have commuter units appearing on Rosslare, Sligo and Tralee services, so more ICR stock is needed

The 2700s will in all likelihood go back to Limerick for regional services.

The 2800s will then return to Dublin.

As I understand it the ICR order will be for intermediate cars thereby allowing sets to be reformed which will then release some sets displaced for use elsewhere.

BowSideChamp

ClovenHoof wrote: »

Including the fact that your Broad Guage Maynooth Luas would have to change gauge to use the already existing Samuel Beckett Bridge tracks, let me be the first to congratulate you on finding the missing link between a Rollercoaster and Rail Transport.

It wouldn't change gauge. All irish gauge. There is no track built on the bridge as yet. The connections would be which all avoid Connolly Station:

Maynooth - Tara St
Maynooth - blanch - Tara

Btw there is space reserved for a rail connection from the maynooth line to the blanch centre. It will never get used unless it is light rail. Light rail brings transport to the masses and is the way to go.

thomasj

BowSideChamp wrote:

It will never get used unless it is light rail. Light rail brings transport to the masses and is the way to go.

Surely then the phoenix park tunnel is not needed? The red line luas is already there!

BowSideChamp

thomasj wrote: »

Surely then the phoenix park tunnel is not needed? The red line luas is already there!

And what light rail currently services Blanchardstown? Probably the largest urban population in Dublin!!

end of the road

BowSideChamp wrote: »

My solution:

-Extend the docklands rail line across the Samuel Beckett bridge and up the quays to Tara street.

-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

- Capcity across the loop line bridge reduced allowing all commuter trains from Huestion to go through Phoenix Park tunnel to the city centre

- thereby no need for Dart Underground that will cost €billions and will never get green lit

- samuel beckett bridge already built for light rail

the maynooth line and the space reserved for tracks across the - samuel beckett bridge are of 2 different gauges (okay, not a huge problem as gauge changing trains do exist i believe)
but then, the question is what are you trying to achieve? facilitate trains through the phoenix park tunnel? well, they are lesser used then the maynooth line, so converting the maynooth line to facilitate them is in my view nonsense. reduce capacity meaning no need for dart underground? well, that's not an option. build a rail line into blanch? i would be in support of that but not at the cost of converting a busy heavy rail line to a light rail line. going into blanch could be part of another luas line if building a heavy rail link can't be done or isn't justified.
dart underground is needed and it's implementation cannot be avoided. reduction of heavy rail capacity within the dublin area is not an option. the maynooth line caries a large amount of passengers, and you have other rail services using the maynooth line, to longford and sligo. to convert the line would also mean closure of some period, which i have no doubt would cause huge problems.
i don't know about anyone else, but for me the perceived benefits of this are so small for the issues it would cause (and potentially the costs) and even at the end of it dart underground will still be needed.

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Light rail brings transport to the masses and is the way to go.

not for the vast majority of your proposal. a light rail service for blanch is a good idea but as part of another luas line serving areas not served.

thomasj

BowSideChamp wrote:

And what light rail currently services Blanchardstown? Probably the largest urban population in Dublin!!

It is the largest suburb in Dublin and if there was a rail connection (even light)
Serving the centre it would benefit greater parts of Blanchardstown but let's be realistic, the best chance blanch has is getting the DART service

fingers crossed with a bit of copon the Dublin bus review will give us a frequent local service linking Blanchardstown centre and the local rail stations with a expanded area of Blanchardstown than there is currently.

Yourself isit

Now that the luas has churned up as much of the city centre as is needed why cant we continue it out to blanch. From broombridge

BowSideChamp

thomasj wrote: »

It is the largest suburb in Dublin and if there was a rail connection (even light)
Serving the centre it would benefit greater parts of Blanchardstown but let's be realistic, the best chance blanch has is getting the DART service

fingers crossed with a bit of copon the Dublin bus review will give us a frequent local service linking Blanchardstown centre and the local rail stations with a expanded area of Blanchardstown than there is currently.

Dart Underground will never get built. It was estimated to cost €3billion for the tunnel alone. Maximising the current infrastructure is the way forward.

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

My solution:

-Extend the docklands rail line across the Samuel Beckett bridge and up the quays to Tara street.

-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

- Capcity across the loop line bridge reduced allowing all commuter trains from Huestion to go through Phoenix Park tunnel to the city centre

- thereby no need for Dart Underground that will cost €billions and will never get green lit

- samuel beckett bridge already built for light rail

Riddiculous idea. An electrified Dart service to Maynooth would make far more sense. No mention of the Sligo line either and the commuter trains going to Longford. Light rail has its place and thats on segregated track or on streets. Dart>Luas

Cannon_fodder

BowSideChamp wrote: »

My solution:

-Extend the docklands rail line across the Samuel Beckett bridge and up the quays to Tara street.

-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

- Capcity across the loop line bridge reduced allowing all commuter trains from Huestion to go through Phoenix Park tunnel to the city centre

- thereby no need for Dart Underground that will cost €billions and will never get green lit

- samuel beckett bridge already built for light rail

Can't happen, non-electric train and too heavy for Beckett bridge. Luas or dart maybe but not a commuter train.

Cannon_fodder

Electric dart to Maynooth is sensible but how much disruption to services will be caused>?

Cannon_fodder

Yourself isit wrote: »

Now that the luas has churned up as much of the city centre as is needed why cant we continue it out to blanch. From broombridge

Capacity, short runs. Imagine how many people would cram into it where as a train with 4 carriages could take 2 to 3 times more,

Stephen15

Cannon_fodder wrote: »

Electric dart to Maynooth is sensible but how much disruption to services will be caused>?

Considering that how quick the wires went up for the Luas BXD I wouldn't say that long only really short term pain for long term gain. I'm sure bus replacements could be put on during any prolonged period and large pieces of work could be done off peak and during weekends.

A Blanchardstown SC Dart branch would also be good.

I'd suggest services patterns like this.

Greystones - Blanchardstown SC

Bray - Maynooth/M3 Parkway

Pearse - Howth/Malahide

I'd also electrify the Docklands line too

Jamie2k9

Cannon_fodder wrote: »

Electric dart to Maynooth is sensible but how much disruption to services will be caused>?

Not a massive amount, lot of night and some weekends only. Would be worth it.

Jamie2k9

Good to see DU has been scrapped, such a flawed project, the money could be spent far more wisely on the railway.

BowSideChamp

Stephen15 wrote: »

Riddiculous idea. An electrified Dart service to Maynooth would make far more sense. No mention of the Sligo line either and the commuter trains going to Longford. Light rail has its place and thats on segregated track or on streets. Dart>Luas

The DART will never run on the Maynooth line. As I said, the DART Underground has been estimated to cost €3billion just for the tunnel. Add the train stock you bring the total bill to €4b. It will never get built.

The constraint at the moment, is the Loop Line bridge and Connolly Station. Electrifying the Maynooth Line as a stand alone project will deliver no increased capacity.

Cannon_fodder wrote: »

Can't happen, non-electric train and too heavy for Beckett bridge. Luas or dart maybe but not a commuter train.

I said light-rail. Luas style. Not a commuter train.

Stephen15

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Good to see DU has been scrapped, such a flawed project, the money could be spent far more wisely on the railway.

I'm not a fan either myself of either DU or MN. I'd prefer a heavy rail metro system like in other cities. Not an underground in sections light rail system or underground suburban trains.

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

The DART will never run on the Maynooth line. As I said, the DART Underground has been estimated to cost €3billion just for the tunnel. Add the train stock you bring the total bill to €4b. It will never get built.

The constraint at the moment, is the Loop Line bridge and Connolly Station. Electrifying the Maynooth Line as a stand alone project will deliver no additional capacity

And nor will any light rail project. We could have Connolly-Malahide/Howth services which would prevent any more congestion on the loop line bridge. What would happen to the Longford/Sligo services if the line was converted. It would be impossible to run Luas trams on an Irish gauge anyway.

BowSideChamp

Stephen15 wrote: »

And nor will any light rail project. We could have Connolly-Malahide/Howth services which would prevent any more congestion on the loop line bridge. What would happen to the Longford/Sligo services if the line was converted. It would be impossible to run Luas trams on an Irish gauge anyway.

Ugh I am repeating myself again.

Use Irish broad gauge. We used it for decades in the city centre.

The Sligo train is a loss maker. Runs only a few times a day. But besides, will not be affected and still will be able to terminate at Connolly.

end of the road

BowSideChamp wrote: »

The DART will never run on the Maynooth line. As I said, the DART Underground has been estimated to cost €3billion just for the tunnel. Add the train stock you bring the total bill to €4b. It will never get built.

The constraint at the moment, is the Loop Line bridge and Connolly Station. Electrifying the Maynooth Line as a stand alone project will deliver no increased capacity.

I said light-rail. Luas style. Not a commuter train.

going on the list of benefits you mentioned in your first post on this thread, the only actual benefit your suggestion would bring is a line into blanch, which can be done anyway without the up-evil and cost of converting a currently existing line which has other services as well as the suburban services, which needs the capacity of heavy rail and which adds badly needed capacity into the dublin area. it can be done via a branch off the currently existing network, or via a new luas route serving new areas not served by rail
the connolly constraint is an issue but it needs solving anyway and it won't be done via your suggestion.

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Ugh I am repeating myself again.

Use Irish broad gauge. We used it for decades in the city centre.

The Sligo train is a loss maker. Runs only a few times a day. But besides, will not be affected and still will be able to terminate at Connolly.

At a time when there was little other traffic on streets.

Its a ridiculous and impractical solution to run light rail alongside heavy rail trains. Hacing two tram systems running on differant gauges is also ridiculous.

Regardless of all that heavy rail is superior as it has more capacity, the rolling stock lasts longer and its faster.

Theres also the Longford commuter and the direct M3 Parkway services aswell as the Sligo train.

Losty Dublin

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Ugh I am repeating myself again.

Use Irish broad gauge. We used it for decades in the city centre.

Where in the city centre was it used, railway lines aside?

BowSideChamp wrote: »

The Sligo train is a loss maker. Runs only a few times a day.

If only a few is seven then yes you are right

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/07_dublin_-sligo.pdf

BowSideChamp

end of the road wrote: »

going on the list of benefits you mentioned in your first post on this thread, the only actual benefit your suggestion would bring is a line into blanch, which can be done anyway without the up-evil and cost of converting a currently existing line which has other services as well as the suburban services, which needs the capacity of heavy rail and which adds badly needed capacity into the dublin area. it can be done via a branch off the currently existing network, or via a new luas route serving new areas not served by rail
the connolly constraint is an issue but it needs solving anyway and it won't be done via your suggestion.

A luas style train from Maynooth could run at 2 min intervals just like the Green Line at peak times. (It would really be Metro Grade rather then luas.) The current contraints leave the Maynooth line currently looking like the commuter train into Calcutta.

Similarly if the Maynooth trains is diverted to a new railway up to Tara Street, if frees up slots on the Loop Line for extra Dart services.

Win - Win - Win

BowSideChamp

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Where in the city centre was it used, railway lines aside?
QUOTE]

What do you think all the tram lines in Dublin were??

wordofwarning

BowSideChamp wrote: »

And what light rail currently services Blanchardstown? Probably the largest urban population in Dublin!!

It is getting a BRT out to UCD. It does not need a Luas line. Blanch is nothing but a horrible shopping centre that would not look out of place in a state you have never heard of in the US, a few business parks aka glorified industrial estates and a generic low density housing. A BRT is fine for Blanch.

It makes no sense spending hundreds of million (probably close to €500-600m) to extent the Luas to Blanch when A) it is getting the BRT. it is not particularly dense C) I imagine the Luas will be pretty packed from Broombridge to town without it serving 70k ish in Blanch

I don't see the logic in serving Blanch just because it has a large urban population, when the public transport in Phisboro, Drumcondra, Santry/Ballymun, Swords is horrific. The metro would serve a lot more people

end of the road

BowSideChamp wrote: »

A luas style train from Maynooth could run at 2 min intervals just like the Green Line at peak times. (It would really be Metro Grade rather then luas.)

but it would still be of lower capacity then the currently existing heavy rail system, would be another type of railway with vehicles that can only operate on that line, wouldn't bring people into connolly for further onward travel. a 2 minute frequency with lower capacity vehicles is nice for a turn up and go service but it is really compensating for a lack of actual capacity which is needed anyway, and which would still have to be implemented. so your suggestion wouldn't solve anything.

BowSideChamp wrote: »

The current contraints leave the Maynooth line currently looking like the commuter train into Calcutta.

that's down to lack of extra carriges currently. can easily be solved.

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Similarly if the Maynooth trains is diverted to a new railway up to Tara Street, if frees up slots on the Loop Line for extra Dart services.

where is it going to terminate in tara street. also, the amount of slots it would supposibly free up just delay the inevitable at greater cost and up-evil to an existing, very busy line.

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Win - Win - Win

not win win win i'm afraid. cost and up-evil for no benefit that can't be solved by other means, which need implementing anyway.

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

A luas style train from Maynooth could run at 2 min intervals just like the Green Line at peak times. (It would really be Metro Grade rather then luas.) The current contraints leave the Maynooth line currently looking like the commuter train into Calcutta.

Similarly if the Maynooth trains is diverted to a new railway up to Tara Street, if frees up slots on the Loop Line for extra Dart services.

Win - Win - Win

That could solved by having Dart services running Connolly to Howth/Malahide and having Bray/Greystones to Maynooth services.

Metro Grade is heavy rail similar to the Dart not being served by any other intercity, commuter or freight services.

Losty Dublin

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Where in the city centre was it used, railway lines aside?
QUOTE]

What do you think all the tram lines in Dublin were??

They were actually 5 foot 2 3/16 inches and not 5 foot 3".

Gauge aside, the curves and gradients on public streets would be too tight to allow for it, and that's before the unacceptable safety risks of running heavy rail on public streets.

BowSideChamp

wordofwarning wrote: »

It is getting a BRT out to UCD. It does not need a Luas line. Blanch is nothing but a horrible shopping centre that would not look out of place in a state you have never heard of in the US, a few business parks aka glorified industrial estates and a generic low density housing. A BRT is fine for Blanch.

It makes no sense spending hundreds of million (probably close to €500-600m) to extent the Luas to Blanch when A) it is getting the BRT. it is not particularly dense C) I imagine the Luas will be pretty packed from Broombridge to town without it serving 70k ish in Blanch

I don't see the logic in serving Blanch just because it has a large urban population, when the public transport in Phisboro, Drumcondra, Santry/Ballymun, Swords is horrific. The metro would serve a lot more people

Lines of paint on the ground will not make a BRT. The BRT to Blanch is a engineers consultancy report. Nothing more. It will not happen. You cannot fit a segregated bus corridor down the Navan Road.

Buses in Ireland mean each passanger having a chat with the driver before they can board slowing everyones commute. No one will park their car and get on a bus.

BowSideChamp

Losty Dublin wrote: »

They were actually 5 foot 2 3/16 inches and not 5 foot 3".

Gauge aside, the curves and gradients on public streets would be too tight to allow for it, and that's before the unacceptable safety risks of running heavy rail on public streets.

JESUS CHRIST!! How many times do I have to say this.

I am talking about a Light Rail train. Similar to the Luas that will use the existing Irish Guage track. Like the Green Luas Line it can be metro capacity. Irish gauage has been used before on the streets in Dublin and can be used again. Russia uses wider gauges on its trams.

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

Lines of paint on the ground will not make a BRT. The BRT to Blanch is a engineers consultancy report. Nothing more. It will not happen. You cannot fit a segregated bus corridor down the Navan Road.

Buses in Ireland mean each passanger having a chat with the driver before they can board slowing everyones commute. No one will park their car and get on a bus.

Its more realistic than your riddiculous suggestion.

No passengers don't have a chat with the driver they have to interact with each other because of the slow boarding and alighting process. If they do its mid journey and anyway the BRT proposal has the driver segregated anyway.

I live on the N11 QBC and I personally find the bus service nearly as good as a Luas or Dart service.

BowSideChamp

Stephen15 wrote: »

Its more realistic than your riddiculous suggestion.

No passengers don't have a chat with the driver they have to interact with each other because of the slow boarding and alighting process. If they do its mid journey and anyway the BRT proposal has the driver segregated anyway.

I live on the N11 QBC and I personally find the bus service nearly as good as a Luas or Dart service.

So each passanger don't have to tell the driver their destination?

Stephen15

BowSideChamp wrote: »

So each passanger don't have to tell the driver their destination?

Yes all ticketing will be off bus. From machines and leap will be tag on/off

end of the road

wordofwarning wrote: »

It is getting a BRT out to UCD. It does not need a Luas line. Blanch is nothing but a horrible shopping centre that would not look out of place in a state you have never heard of in the US, a few business parks aka glorified industrial estates and a generic low density housing. A BRT is fine for Blanch.

It makes no sense spending hundreds of million (probably close to €500-600m) to extent the Luas to Blanch when A) it is getting the BRT. it is not particularly dense C) I imagine the Luas will be pretty packed from Broombridge to town without it serving 70k ish in Blanch

I don't see the logic in serving Blanch just because it has a large urban population, when the public transport in Phisboro, Drumcondra, Santry/Ballymun, Swords is horrific. The metro would serve a lot more people

what's the logic in serving anywhere because it has a large urban population, when other areas have public transport that is horrific? because the reality is it needs good quality transport, and we can insure all of the areas you mention have good quality public transport with political will. it doesn't have to be 1 place at the expence of another. a brt being brought out to blanch isn't a reason for no luas line. in fact, it's possible it may have to be upgraded to a luas line anyway at a later stage, so it may as well be built. if it actually doesn't justify a luas line, and there is no chance of that being the case in the future, then so be it. but i personally don't believe it won't need 1 in the future, so it's best to build it. if anything, it may encourage people to move into the area.
todays current needs aren't tomorrows. we really need to get away from the mindset of only doing things for today's needs, it's about future proofing the country.

BowSideChamp wrote: »

JESUS CHRIST!! How many times do I have to say this.

I am talking about a Light Rail train. Similar to the Luas that will use the existing Irish Guage track. Like the Green Luas Line it can be metro capacity. Irish gauage has been used before on the streets in Dublin and can be used again. Russia uses wider gauges on its trams.

okay. dublin's trams were not 5-3 as losty has just explained to you. we know the type of train you are talking about. however, the reality is that they are of low capacity compared to the existing heavy rail network, will only be able to run on that 1 line, will mean huge up-evil for that line which is very busy because it will need to be closed while the relevant conversion work takes place, means services to sligo can no longer operate because the trams will require lower electrical wiring. and all for, avoiding the building of DU which will have to be built eventually, bringing a line into blanch which can be done as is, and freeing up a few slots at connolly which will be taken i presume by an increased phoenix park tunnel service (who's facilitation is one of the reasons you believe this proposal should be implemented)
all the while money will need to be spent on extra capacity through connolly anyway. your suggestion is a solution looking for a problem, as the problem will need to be solved via other means anyway.

thomasj

wordofwarning wrote:

It is getting a BRT out to UCD. It does not need a Luas line. Blanch is nothing but a horrible shopping centre that would not look out of place in a state you have never heard of in the US, a few business parks aka glorified industrial estates and a generic low density housing. A BRT is fine for Blanch.

wordofwarning wrote:

It makes no sense spending hundreds of million (probably close to €500-600m) to extent the Luas to Blanch when A) it is getting the BRT. it is not particularly dense C) I imagine the Luas will be pretty packed from Broombridge to town without it serving 70k ish in Blanch

Blanch has a population in excess of 100k. Largest suburb in the country.

Randallator

BowSideChamp wrote: »

My solution:


-Convert the Maynooth commuter line to light rail (Irish broadgauge with branches to the Blanch Centre) allowing onstreet connection to Tara Street over the Samuel Beckett bridge.

you do know that there's a reason that standard gauge was used for the luas right?

Yourself isit

Cannon_fodder wrote: »

Capacity, short runs. Imagine how many people would cram into it where as a train with 4 carriages could take 2 to 3 times more,

Well up the frequency then. There is a link to tallaght which is as big.

McAlban

All I'm hearing here is Scrap DU for the sake of a Spur to Blanch Centre. Or Convert the Maynooth Line to Standard Gage to allow Luas to run from Blanch to Tara St.

Neither of these will ever happen. We've discussed on these boards before how the Blanch already has 4 Stations On the Maynooth Line. Are you Suggesting we build a multi million euro spur to service a shopping centre? Why not extend to Ongar, Littlepace and across the N3 also?

Direct BRT or Sprinter Service feeding to the Local Train Stations is the correct option for Blanch.

bk

MOD: Enough talk about converting the Maynooth line to Metro! It is off topic for this thread. If people want to discuss it start a new thread on it specifically. Plenty to talk about from the independent article.

LXFlyer

Yourself isit wrote: »

Well up the frequency then. There is a link to tallaght which is as big.

More trains (and drivers) are needed to deliver that along with the removal of the remaining level crossings.

The return of the 2700 DMUs should mean that the 2800s return to Dublin which will facilitate more trains.

Electrifying the route and implementing a DART service is the only way forward.

Converting to light rail has to be the daftest idea I've read here for some time. The idea of a 2 minute frequency from Maynooth to the city is crazy.

It also takes no account of Sligo line services.

A decent DART service is the only real solution.

LXFlyer

That article is a sales pitch from the CEO for what he needs to keep the existing railway working.

DART Underground is a separate project that is currently under review - I don't see it as having vanished at all.