Project Ireland 2040 - Transport Plans

devnull

This afternoon the government is expected to announce the infrastructure plans for Ireland between now and 2040 and transport is almost certainly going to play a large part of this.

According to the rumour mill we can expect to see the following
- M20 from Limerick to Cork.
- Light rail service for Cork.
- Dublin luas extensions to Finglas, Lucan, Bray and Poolbeg
- Atlantic Corridor linking Donegal to Sligo and Tuam
- Metro North (renamed Dublin Metro)
- Dublin Airport Second Runway.

Please note this thread should discuss the day to day operations that may be effected by this - detailed infrastructure based discussion should take place in the infrastructure forum.

Riskymove

The docs and details are now available www.gov.ie/2040

devnull

See page 53-57 here for full details
http://www.gov.ie/en/pdf-viewer/?file=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/govieassets/18/5569359-NDP%20strategy%202018-2027_WEB.pdf#page=55

Public Transport Related content

• Continued investment in bus and train fleets, as well as infrastructure, to maintain safety and service levels including further expansion where required.

• Delivery of the full BusConnects programmefor all of Ireland’s cities (inclusive of ticketing systems, bus corridors, additional capacity, new bus stops and bus shelters etc.).

• Transition to low emission buses, including electric buses, for the urban public bus fleet, with no diesel-only buses purchased from July 2019, while promoting commercial bus services and small public service vehicle industry to pursue low emission fleet.

• Complete construction of Metro Link

• Delivery of priority elements of the DART Expansion Programme including investment in new train fleet, new infrastructure and electrification of existing lines.

• Park-and-Ride Programme: strategic park and ride sites plus investment in parking facilities at rail, Luas and bus locations, for example, Swords, Finglas, Dunboyne, Liffey Valley, Naas Road, Carrickmines, Woodbrook and Greystones and with national development of BusConnects, for example, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

• Complete construction of the National Train Control Centre.

• Delivery of comprehensive cycling and walking network for Ireland’s cities.

• Supporting programmes of rail and bus station improvement/development, traffic management investment, passenger information programmes, public bicycle share schemes, accessibility enhancements and similar.

• In line with the National Transport Authority’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, undertake appraisal, planning and design of LUAS network expansion to Bray, Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg and a light rail corridor for Cork in the later stages of the period of the Cork Transport Strategy which is being finalised

LeinsterDub

The plan promises high-frequency DARTs

The next step will be to provide fast, high-frequency electrified services to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Celbridge/Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Sligo Line, while continuing to provide DART services on the South-Eastern Line as far south as Greystones

For me anything less that 10 minutes would not be considered high-frequency and realistically it should be higher.

devnull

Metro Link System

Arising from an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations, a final route and station location will be established, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken on the Emerging Preferred Route in early 2018.

Estimated Cost: €3 billion
Estimated Completion Date: 2027

As envisaged by the NTA’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), a light rail system from Swords, via Dublin Airport to Dublin’s south city centre (operating in tunnel under the city centre) and onwards to Sandyford using the existing LUAS Green Line to ensure that growth along this corridor can be accommodated.

This will provide Dublin with a high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor, serving critical destinations such as Swords, Dublin Airport, Dublin City University, Ballymun, the Mater Hospital and existing destinations along the LUAS Green Line to Sandyford. Metro Link will provide faster reliable journey times to and from these key destinations while offering interchange with other rail, DART Expansion, light rail and bus services.

DART Expansion Programme

Estimated Cost: €2 billion
Estimated Completion Date: 2027

The DART Expansion Programme is a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked and connected. The initial sequencing of investment will focus on delivery of non-underground tunnel elements of the programme using the recently opened rail link and existing connector tunnel under the Phoenix Park.

This includes buying additional fleet for the DART network and measures such as re-signalling, junction and station changes to provide expanded services. The next step will be to provide fast, high-frequency electrified services to Drogheda on the Northern Line, Celbridge/Hazelhatch on the Kildare Line, Maynooth and M3 Parkway on the Maynooth/Sligo Line, while continuing to provide DART services on the South-Eastern Line as far south as Greystones. It will also include new stations to provide interchange with bus, LUAS and Metro networks.

The significant benefit to using the recently opened rail link and existing connector tunnel under the Phoenix Park and the proposed sequence of investment, is that it will enable additional passenger services to be put in place much earlier using existing infrastructure with some enhancements.

This integrated rail network will provide a core, high-capacity transit system for the region and will deliver a very substantial increase in peak-hour capacity on all lines from Drogheda, Maynooth, Celbridge/Hazelhatch and Greystones. The route for the remaining element of the overall DART Expansion Programme, the DART Underground Tunnel, will be established and protected to allow for its future delivery.

BusConnects Galway

Current Status: Galway Transport Strategy 2016 in place, planning and design underway.
Estimated Cost: €200 million
Estimated Completion Date: 2027

Galway BusConnects will deliver a rationalised network of five high-performing cross-city routes. All routes will serve major city centre attractions as well as linking all major destinations across the city. Galway BusConnects will comprise next generation bus lanes, enhanced services, cashless fares and account-based ticketing.

As part of this programme delivery, a network of park and ride sites, serviced by the more efficient bus network, will be put in place. Galway BusConnects will also encompass a variety of city centre public realm enhancements, will enhance the overall transport experience and improve the attractiveness of the city centre.

BusConnects Cork

Current Status: Cork Transport Strategy being developed in partnership with the NTA.
Estimated Cost: €200 million
Estimated Completion Date: 2027

A revised bus network for Cork City is being developed as part of the Cork Transport Strategy. Cork BusConnects will comprise the delivery of crucial bus corridors, enhanced services, cashless fares and account-based ticketing. As part of this programme delivery, a network of park and ride sites, serviced by the more efficient bus network, will be put in place. Cork BusConnects has enormous potential to radically transform the bus system in Cork, making it much more efficient, reliable and attractive to new passengers.

BusConnects Dublin

Current Status: GDA Transport Strategy 2016-2035 in place, planning and design underway.
Estimated Cost: €2 billion
Estimated Completion Date: 2027

Dublin BusConnects will deliver a transformational redesign of the bus system in Dublin. It will comprise a network of ‘next generation’ bus corridors on the busiest routes with segregated cycling facilities, a complete redesign of the bus network, cashless and simpler fare structures, and state-of-the-art ticketing systems, account-based ticketing, new bus branding, integrating bus vehicles of different operators and types, new bus stops and shelters, and use of low-emission vehicles.

AugustusMinimus

No light rail for Cork anyways.

devnull

See attached for map of proposed Dublin Transport system in 2027

devnull

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

No light rail for Cork anyways.

See the last bullet point here

In line with the National Transport Authority’s Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, undertake appraisal, planning and design of LUAS network expansion to Bray, Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg and a light rail corridor for Cork in the later stages of the period of the Cork Transport Strategy which is being finalised

AugustusMinimus

devnull wrote: »

See the last bullet point here

I think with increased densification of Cork a light rail line may just about be viable. Expect increased developments along a proposed route between Ballincollig - City Centre - Mahon

LeinsterDub

Bus Connects' budget has doubled.

Infini

Pity theres little mention of the DU apart from a few bits and pieces.

thomasj

Infini wrote: »

Pity theres little mention of the DU apart from a few bits and pieces.

post 2027 it mentions in the document.

Also on the map confirms what we know already that they will use hybrid diesel/electricity trains on the DART lines

LeinsterDub

Infini wrote: »

Pity theres little mention of the DU apart from a few bits and pieces.

A big feature of the Dart plan is to be the immediate placing of an order for about 100 new carriages which will likely include diesel-battery engines - described as “the Toyota Prius” of trains. This would allow Irish Rail to improve capacity far in advance of electrification to Maynooth and Drogheda lines.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-2040-transport-plan-includes-5-7bn-for-roads-1.3394774

Just need someone to drive them now ;)

Shn99

Was announced on Friday so it can be forgotten about on Monday

LeinsterDub

Shn99 wrote: »

Was announced on Friday so it can be forgotten about on Monday

Do you often forget about 113 Billon in promises?

end of the road

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Do you often forget about 113 Billon in promises?

at this stage yes . they usually end up not happening so i may as well forget them. maybe it will be different this time but i would be shocked if it is

Shn99

NSS in 2002...that was a roaring success wasnt it? ......

LeinsterDub

end of the road wrote: »

at this stage yes . they usually end up not happening so i may as well forget them. maybe it will be different this time but i would be shocked if it is

I'm not foolish enough to believe this PR release unquestionably but it certainly isn't the case of burying the news on a Friday afternoon.

Fann Linn

LeinsterDub wrote: »

I'm not foolish enough to believe this PR release unquestionably but it certainly isn't the case of burying the news on a Friday afternoon.

'A well choreographed, political event', was how the RTE 9.00 News summed it up.

Very apt.

magicbastarder

given that the significant aspects seem due for delivery in 2027 (i.e. at least two governments away), why pick 2040 as the plan title?

Shn99

magicbastarder wrote: »

given that the significant aspects seem due for delivery in 2027 (i.e. at least two governments away), why pick 2040 as the plan title?

They probably named it 2040 "in case" they miss the deadline of 2027

JCX BXC

Little mentioned for Limerick, especially in public transport. Is it currently considered adequate?

strandroad

devnull wrote: »

info

Am I reading it right: there will be no additions to Dublin's public transport for the next 10 years? And then several arrive together in 2027?

magicbastarder

magicbastarder wrote: »

given that the significant aspects seem due for delivery in 2027 (i.e. at least two governments away), why pick 2040 as the plan title?

seriously though - i know in work when filling out my performance management forms, never promise to deliver everything on the same date. in dublin alone, they've promised the metro, dart expansion and busconnects dublin completion time in the same year. did they just contact a few different teams a few months ago when deciding what the plans should be, and the response from each of them was 'uhhh... ten years time?'

Zebra3

devnull wrote: »

See attached for map of proposed Dublin Transport system in 2027

I thought the Luas extensions were post-2027.

devnull

Zebra3 wrote: »

I thought the Luas extensions were post-2027.

That map was the one provided in the documents issued today - it shows the lines which are post 2027 in the key on the map.

Zebra3

devnull wrote: »

That map was the one provided in the documents issued today - it shows the lines which are post 2027 in the key on the map.

A sly attempt of a con job by FG.

2027 in big writing. Map looks impressive. Hidden away in small print that some of it is post-2027.

Utter contempt for the taxpayer.

Shn99

JCX BXC wrote: »

Little mentioned for Limerick, especially in public transport. Is it currently considered adequate?

Lots of if's and maybes for us unfortunately. The Limerick Foynes rail line "might" reopen and Busconnects "might" come to limerick

murphaph

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Do you often forget about 113 Billon in promises?

In fairness it wouldn't be the first time. Remember Transport 21 or whatever it was called?

LeinsterDub

murphaph wrote: »

In fairness it wouldn't be the first time. Remember Transport 21 or whatever it was called?

Yes I don't think anyone here has forgot that. Which is kind of my point.

CarlosHarpic

JCX BXC wrote: »

Little mentioned for Limerick, especially in public transport. Is it currently considered adequate?

I wouldn't worry about it. None of the Dublin stuff is going to happen anyway.

Many of us who were in the prime of our lives when Transport21 was announced will be in our graves before a metro is running in Dublin.

tabbey

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Yes I don't think anyone here has forgot that. Which is kind of my point.

We have not forgotten because the slogan and logo is plastered all over the system, just like large sign boards telling us about the upgrade to the cross border railway, finished over twenty years ago. The latter upgrade is long past its use by date.

MGWR

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Do you often forget about (€)113 Billon (sic) in promises?

Government does. Every day. Remember those promises of electrified Dublin-Cork rail service? Why end at Hazelhatch, which is still the middle of nowhere?

XPS_Zero

I find this entire thing hilariously depressing. They come into office, cancel all these kinda projects, wait the 10 years it would have taken to build the f---g things, skipping a period where they'd have been an AMAZING stimulus package for a depressed economy putting all those unemployed builders and engineers and architects to work, then wait until the economy is recovered and passengers are once again mashed like sardines into trams and DARTs and busses, when the key population corridors are once again growing, then LONG AFTER IT WOULD DO THE MOST GOOD...they decide to UN-cancel them, pretend that they came up with all these projects themselves when most of them are around since 2006/7 and they were the ones that f---g shelved them in the first place...and then say oh yeh we'll do them in 20 years...TOOOOOOTALLLLY...now er...re-elect us we'll do them all...honest!


Oh and then of course, they also resurrect another concept they stole from another government, decentralization, BUT they decide they're gonna do this one the intelligent way (unlike the way Charlie MCG was gonna do it) by building up 4-5 urban hubs to counter-balance Dublin, an idea obvious to anyone and their grandmother for YEARS. So this is the logical plan unlike the old one which was to spread all the govt offices around every town and county (with the aim of gathering votes rather than urban planning) so thinly it would make no real difference....and then five minutes after it's announced the usual suspects are out saying "but wherez de investment for the little town of ballykismearse! where iz it ministar? d'ya not care about the peeple of ballykismearse? we demand our own light rail we demand jobs! why are all de jobs goin te de citiez?"...and they're ready to cave.

So copy the last guys plans on transport but do it 30 years too late (the 10 years they wasted plus 20 to build), steal the original notion behind the last guys decentralization plan and do it the smart way...then start caving just like he did.

Oh god...the stupid....IT HURTS...it actually hurts.....give me the blue pill give me the blue pill...I long for the naive days long ago when I assumed you didn't get into a high position unless you knew what you were doing.:(

devnull

Deedsie wrote: »

Was there any mention of an investment in expressway bus services? Any new buses etc? New technology? Leap card capability etc

Expressway is a commercial venture and Bus Eireann would need to find their own funding for that.

devnull

Deedsie wrote: »

So the only announcememt on expressway investment or upgrades would be a BE press release? And highly unlikely in the medium term?

Yes - it is a commercial matter for Bus Eireann Expressway and is for them to decide what is viable, the same way as it is for any other commercial operator.

Very disappointing, how much would it cost to roll out real time properly? A few million. Service would be so much more user friendly and more people would use it because they could rely on it and know when its going to arrive.

It would be classified as illegal state aid against a private enterprise so it cannot happen as it is not the job of the taxpayer to stump up the funding to allow a public company to use taxpayer money to flush out private competition and nor should it be in my opinion.

Bus Eireann Expressway is a commercial operator just like Dublin Bus Airlink and private commercial operators and has to follow the very same rules that other commercial operators need to follow and pay for the same things that said operators also need to pay for out of it's own money.

sunrainmooncl

XPS_Zero wrote: »

skipping a period where they'd have been an AMAZING stimulus package for a depressed economy putting all those unemployed builders and engineers and architects to work

Where would this money have come from?

Telchak

Saw Noel Rock TD on Facebook telling people that the Finglas extension will start in 2019 and only take a year to build. Also basically taking credit for it.

Idbatterim

Telchak wrote: »

Saw Noel Rock TD on Facebook telling people that the Finglas extension will start in 2019 and only take a year to build. Also basically taking credit for it.

What? Sure they haven’t even started on potential routings or anything have they?!

magicbastarder

“This is a party political advertisement in a national newspaper in what is a marginal constituency in which the sitting Fine Gael TD is fighting to hold on to his seat. So this is very, very targeted political advertising that is, essentially, being paid for by the taxpayer.”

The hard-working Noel Rock will indeed have to work hard to retain his Fine Gael seat in Dublin North-West – a constituency which includes Finglas, the subject of the glowing Herald advertorial which annoyed Lahart so much.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/miriam-lord-fine-gael-s-big-announcement-fails-to-go-to-plan-1.3403657

Peregrine

Telchak wrote: »

Saw Noel Rock TD on Facebook telling people that the Finglas extension will start in 2019 and only take a year to build. Also basically taking credit for it.

Could you give me a link to that post?

I saw him post that route design will start soon and that he expects it to open by 2027. Which is very different to what you're claiming he posted. Would love to see the post.

Panjandrums

This post has been deleted.

Telchak

Panjandrums wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Ahhh that's what I saw but I must have misread that as 19 (thinking 2019), mea culpa

Surely the one year timeline is still ambitious though?