marno21 wrote: » Very welcome, but the construction is dependent on density improving along the corridor. The vague corridor is known now, so it's up to the City Council to start driving on development along the corridor and making appropriate provisions. We've seen renders for 3,100 or so apartments at the end of Centre Park Road recently which is the type of development we need to be seeing en masse to make this a success. In rail terms, I hope this uses the old Blackrock & Passage line from Blackrock to Mahon Point. There should be enough space to accomodate both the Greenway and the tram but it will require some bridge reconstructions (Skehard Road for one).
River Suir wrote: » Surely the answer is to construct the line first and drive development along the corridor as a matter of policy?
marno21 wrote: » Very welcome, but the construction is dependent on density improving along the corridor. The vague corridor is known now, so it's up to the City Council to start driving on development along the corridor and making appropriate provisions. We've seen renders for 3,100 or so apartments at the end of Centre Park Road recently which is the type of development we need to be seeing en masse to make this a success.In rail terms, I hope this uses the old Blackrock & Passage line from Blackrock to Mahon Point. There should be enough space to accomodate both the Greenway and the tram but it will require some bridge reconstructions (Skehard Road for one).
Itssoeasy wrote: » It's a no brainer and the skehard road and maybe the one that crosses where the old blackrock station but it's not as low as skehard road.
whisky_galore wrote: » Hopefully a concerned walkers and cyclists NIMBY group doesn't spring up.
Losty Dublin wrote: » Such as the Lee to Youghal via Courtmacsherry Ramblers Association or the Cork Railpath Accessability Project?
TheChizler wrote: » Something being a no brainer has never been a good reason for doing something, the route should be optimum for its purpose, not just the obvious or easy option. On a billion euro project these consultants will be paid enough to use their brains.
IE 222 wrote: » Has any consideration been given to using the greenway for heavy rail. It's the only realistic routing for any future routes (if any) to get a rail service out to Carrigaline / Ringaskiddy and West Cork from Kent.
Itssoeasy wrote: » Well west cork would be a stretch(but not impossible ) given how much of the line is gone although the viaduct is still there and the embankments are still there by that viaduct as is that tunnel(can't remember it) but there are bits that would need a bit of creative thinking.
marno21 wrote: » There's no path into the city centre. The N27 South City Link Road occupies the trackbed from the Kinsale Road Roundabout to Albert Quay, the old railway office there is part of the Webworks development and the railway station itself is now occupied by the Elysian. The trackbed is mostly usable from the Kinsale Road Roundabout - it would be useful as a greenway alright.
Itssoeasy wrote: » Never been a good reason ? I disagree that at times it actually is the way to go. The Luas in Dublin used the old railway line that went to broadstone. That was a great idea because you were using a former heavy rail alignment for light rail. The common factor there is rail. The old blackrock railway line is one of if not the only thing of it's kind within cork city. Surely it's more cost effective to use an alignment that's already there and passes by Mahon point and other places of work in that area. It makes sense.
TheChizler wrote: » I'm just saying if built there for cheap but it's less accessible to the local population than alternatives then it would be rather poor value for money. Are people going to make the journey to use it.
dowlingm wrote: » I would rate the chances of a heavy/mainline/1600mm route south of the river as near zero and on the Passage Route as actually zero. Why bother? The Port of Cork seems to have decided that railfreight will not move the needle on the success of its operations and even if it's wrong on that they can move that traffic over to Marino Point. So if railfreight isn't the goal, a light rail solution can move the same number of people, if not more, as a commuter service into town than to be a feed to/from the national network and be somewhat more sympathetic to the localities it goes through in respect of mode separation.
IE 222 wrote: » I'd agree the likelihood of such a line are slim to none but it's this logic that needs to shift. There are many large manufacturing companies in the area also. Personally I think it might be a little far fetched for a light rail network. Carrigaline is going to continue to grow and no doubt other areas will also in years to come.
dowlingm wrote: » far fetched how? How is it more far fetched than 1600mm, with high platforms and elevators, millions for automating level crossings, and having to wait to enter signal blocks, and god knows what sort of approach to Kent? It can’t be capacity because Ottawa is running 1500V 2x50m Citadis which likely compares well to what Cobh and Midleton get from their 2600s, even if you restricted service to their 4/hr. It can’t be speed because Citadis can do 110km/h and a glance at the route will tell the likelihood of a rail vehicle needing any more is unlikely. It can’t be distance - 20km Cork-Passage-Carrigaline is peanuts. So apart from “but the shots of hand me down 29Ks doing 5mph through the City Centre to creep into Kent would be awesome - we would finally have a spectacle again to match Wexford Quay’s” what’s the supposed need here?
TheBoyConor wrote: » I think the T&RS subforum needs a Walter Mitty's Fantasy Railway sticky thread. The notion that a new 5'3" mm guage route would be built in Ireland is wishful thinking and that it would be built outside of the Pale, would be in the realm pure fantasy.
IE 222 wrote: » All new rail lines built in this state in the last number of years have been outside the pale.
L1011 wrote: » Dunboyne, Docklands and PPT reactivation are inside the pale
L1011 wrote: » The Pale and Dublin are not the same thing!
petronius wrote: » The Western Cork Luas line linking CIT and CUH and UCC with the city centre and kent station is logicial it would hopefully then the project gain momentum. ..... The kent station to Mahon with a luas on the old heavy rail line seems likely, but if you are using a heavy rail from cobh and midelton and mallow to kent why no electrify them as a Cork Area Rapid Transport (CART)
TheBoyConor wrote: » What new lines have been built outside the Pale? None. The WRC or Midlton is not a new line, it's just reopeneing and derelict line. not the same thing. I don't think the cork Luas will happen. There will be too many objections and if there is any whiff of CPO for people's gardens, then it is a dead duck. As for the heavy rail between Kent and Mahon? Lol. Have you got a temperature? That is the stuff of a fevered dream. If you are talking about it going out the passage railway then that is a non runner as it is a greenway now, a hugely popular amenity in fact that is being refurbished and enhanced soon.
