MJohnston wrote: » But this is my point - there's no actual governmental importance assigned to DU, so it remains off the next 10-20 years worth of infrastructure plans. Additionally, the longer it fails to exist, and other changes in Dublin's infrastructure occur (such as MetroLink), the less important the project will become. Long story short - for me DU just doesn't seem anywhere near likely to happen in the next 20 years, and that is basically a death sentence for it. Meanwhile, a prime 2600sqm site right beside one of the main rail stations in the city, in a high demand area near to both the city centre CBD and the Docklands, is now going to remain derelict forever because of this. (One thing I'll say is myopic - the height of that proposed office block, it should have been 9-10 stories). And it's really disappointing that CIE couldn't sit down with the building planners and work out a way to incorporate plans for a DU station into that building's design (similar to how Mater hospital and parts of Dublin Airport were built to accommodate future MetroLink stations).
lucernarian wrote: » If they are forced to terminate a line there, the site requirements will be larger than if a mere station box was to be built. Also worth noting the Dart Underground station boxes would be a lot bigger than anything envisiaged for the current and historical proposed metro schemes in Dublin. I don't think Dart Underground will be made less useful by what MetroLink can offer, barring the indirect impact caused by the Airport Spur becoming less important. Along the route of MetroLink, there is not much land zoned residential but underdeveloped or undeveloped, compared to the commuter rail network (Leixlip north and Kishogue are two along Kildare and Maynooth lines for instance). With the ongoing pressure on housing in the GDA, solutions that enable new neighbourhoods etc. have to be prioritised more into the future. There's nothing to say that MetroLink would somehow cannibalise DU's potential.
MJohnston wrote: » MetroLink is unlikely to be the only change to transport infrastructure in Dublin in the next 20 years. The very nature of commuting is likely to dramatically change even without any additional transport services being built. But even just the planned existence of MetroLink is already reshaping the future of rail in the city - there's a lot more focus on 'working around' DU, like with the PPT shifting from being a curio to a legitimate functioning cog in the greater system, or with the plans for a big interchange at Glasnevin-Whitworth. Personally I would love to see DU built, but I'm pragmatic enough to see that a project like that doesn't get pushed back by so many different governments, in a multitude of different economic environments, without being intrinsically toxic for some reason. Thus I just can't foresee any conditions under which it would somehow ever be funded.
lucernarian wrote: » The price tag is the biggest issue here - I suspect the objections from some East Wall residents were overblown and certainly are dwarfed by what Na Fianna turned into. I suspect the union issues surrounding CIÉ has permanently dirtied its bib. Also, the Greens and Social Democrats seem to be the most vocal about DU and its merits - it's not something that ever captured the imagination of the larger parties or the public at large, since the Luas was built between Heuston and Connolly.
CatInABox wrote: » While I fully agree with the decision to block the development at Sandwith St, it pretty poor form that the company that owns the land will now get hit with a massive levy due to them not being able to develop it. I'd hope that common sense will break out and the levy dropped on this site, otherwise I'd say that a lawsuit will be filed in short order.
BonnieSituation wrote: » We're seeing aproper transport crisis already. DU and Dart expansion are already 10-15 years too late.
marno21 wrote: » And still at best 10-15 years away. Sad really, but not surprising in any way.
CatInABox wrote: » Realistically, how quickly could the dart expansion be up and running? Will it have to go through the same process as the Metrolink, with a public consultation, and then planning application?
bk wrote: » Well if the rumoured order of a large number of new hybrid trains by Irish Rail is true, then we could see a big increase in the number of trains serving these routes in the next 5 to 10 years. While of course preferable to electrify these lines, the new trains should allow them to bring new service online quicker then needing to wait for design, planning and construction of electric wires and junction improvements would take.
Consonata wrote: » It is rather short term thinking though, especially considering we should be hoping to phase out Diesel/Petrol use by 2030/2040
Sam Russell wrote: » If they are buying new trains, they should be battery/electric.
LeinsterDub wrote: » Has there been any progress made on this ? I've not seeing anything official since February
Chivito550 wrote: » Progress? What does that word mean?
loyatemu wrote: » worth noting that the BusConnects report say there will be a Dart every 10 minutes between Bray and Howth Jct (which we knew about) and every 20 minutes to Howth, Malahide and Greystones (which in the case of Greystones is new information).
LXFlyer wrote: » It cannot be every 20 mins to Greystones - that’s far too tight without a passing loop, and would not allow for minimum turnaround times. That has to be a typo. It’ll still be every 30 mins I would safely say.
loyatemu wrote: » local councillors met the NTA about BusConnects; the NTA said they have engineers looking into options.
bk wrote: » Consonata wrote: » It is rather short term thinking though, especially considering we should be hoping to phase out Diesel/Petrol use by 2030/2040 Sorry perhaps your misunderstand what the term "hybrid" means here in relation to trains? The better term is Bi-mode trains, these are electric trains that operate 100% off electricity where there are overhead electric wiring (i.e. like the DART), but can also run on Diesel where the wiring isn't installed yet. They can even transition between electric and diesel during a journey. The idea being that these new trains can be rolled out within the next 4 to 5 years. They can covert to 100% electric running as the wiring is put in place over the next 10 to 20 years. Seems like a good idea to me, only downside is that they are more costly then EMU's, but given how slow it is to rollout infrastructure here in Ireland, I think it maybe a wise decision, if a bit of a waste of money in the long term.
CatInABox wrote: » I'd assume that they have some sort of plan for it, it's been a known problem for ages now. Perhaps they plan to build a passing loop in there somewhere.
