Metrolink - Alternative Routes - See post one for restrictions.

Not trying to add any kind of justification to Strassenwolf’s utterly stupid arguments but surely it’s not true that trains from Drumcondra won’t be able to access Spencer Dock…? Is it that ‘the dip’ linking Drumcondra just won’t be electrified?

This schematic from the D+ thread seems to indicate that they will be able to, and that the actual plan is to use the link. Not that this would make any difference to @Brightlights66’s comment when it comes to justification of not building Glasnevin and having all trains run through Drumcondra, as 19+ trains an hour would simply not work.

Not trying to derail the thread off topic but just very quickly wondering what the story is here.

Who knew that Drumcondra was center of the transport world…

Don’t say the D word 3 times in a mirror. Strassen Juice will appear

Point taken on North South going through Christ Church and agree - that's why I've argued N11/N1 route for that instead - without giving the government Shtick for pursuing the project because it badly needed to be done - the current Metrolink route is incorrect and should have been done along the N11 / N1 route instead.

Busconnects is a joke - anyone with a sports bag can't fit on to a bus at rush hour - that rules out a large portion of all schoolkids and to a lesser extent college students - Bus's although suitable for some commuters don't cut it for a large portion of commuters.

7 Metro lines may never happen - but if they do they should be done in that design as it more or less perfectly maps evenly symmetrically the areas of Dublin if we a assume Dublin is a semi circular shape and should be divided in a web-like structure to evenly map that shape. It may not exactly cover the most populous areas but it hits evenly the areas on a map in as evenly per square mile / a covered way as possible.

Re Maynooth - I hadn't understood DART+ was going out there but if it does - that covers the same route - perfect. The idea is to go out as far as possible to commuter towns and open a greenbelt of development land for housing and make the city accessible other than road. I am assuming in my metro map - once the metro hits beyond the M50, as much of it as possible will be built above ground to save money. If DART+ can be built above ground within the city - also a plus as it saves billions.

Which brings me to money to do these things. If other countries can do it, we should at least be able to do it on an equal basis - that means 5 lines otherwise calling us a world class country is a joke. Money, will be going to other infrastructure projects should be funneled into metro to male Dublin a first world city.

Other than that, if we can go above ground with DART+ and save 80% of the budget we should 100% do that. But bus's don't cut it transport wise. In any case I prefer above ground train routes but the idea of connecting up the city simply has to be done to get the cities infrastructure first world. Bus' doesn't cut it for tourists, international workers and residents, investors, it doesn't even cut it for kids with sports gear nevermind wheelchairs etc. It's the most basic mode of public transport.

Thank you for informing me that Navan Naas and Maynooth are going to be covered by DART+ eventually. That is fantastic news.

In relation to LUAS, see my comments above. I think it's a cop out and other solutions should be found to get DART in it's place if possible and if not Metro (within the 5 line radius).

I take you superior knowledge on frequency, efficiency etc. on running routes in place, once built.

Thank you for your response. Just to inform you, I understand you probably work within the planning / running side of transport infrastructure in this country, but I want to let you know, I am just an passionate commuter. I have sent that precise map above with amendments into several government ministers and they can vouch for that if you want to email - PM me and I will tell you which ones.

As you can see from my above map - I live in a specific area, along the DART line which is more focused on with LAUS amendments etc so you can see I am a non-political poster with a passion for how I see and get around the city. I am passionate about using public transport and not so passionate about other modes but one thing is clear - the public transport infrastructure in Dublin - is inadequate.

Thank you for the detailed response although I don't agree with a lot of it. It is apparent I am talking to someone with superior knowledge than I have in relation to infrastructure planning etc., however, that doesn't discount my points. If you believe I am a passionate commuter, who is a big fan of rail transport particularly, you will understand my points if not agree with them from a professional standpoint listening to a customer.

I am not a politician, or posting politically, moreover as you well know I am not an engineer, but to dismiss my points with your information, is symptomatic of the misplaced superiority complex many in this country have simply because they run the show and don't have to listen to customers/citizens/voters!!!

"looks super unrealistic."

"I'm totally happy to sit down"

Thanks for p1sstaking. Can we focus on infrastructure now, as I have valued your contributions.

I see the AI powered bots are in place to diffuse awkward situations now.

I will edit the above.

DART and Metro are basically the same spec - heavy rail. It will be too expensive to build the orbital line as heavy rail, and there is really no need to build it underground, or above ground, which while cheaper than a tunnel is still insanely expensive for what will be a line running through mostly greenfield sites.

Now who knows, they may decide to do one of the options to free up more land for development, but I highly doubt it. What will happen is as @riddlinrussell says, small section of grade separated track (like on the Luas Green Line’s Brides Glen extension, to avoid the likes of road junctions and the like.

But it will likely be built to a Luas standard. Yes probably closer to the Green Line in being a lite metro, and who knows, if demand requires, it can be upgraded to metro accordingly, as will happen to the GL south of Charlemont as things stand, but I think it will be too expensive CBA-wise to build it as anything other than light rail.

With regard to the metro lines you are suggesting above, there is simply no need for some of them, the N11 is not a high enough density corridor, and is also too close to two other high capacity rail corridors (DART and Luas (Metro in the future) to be justifiable. It too I think will be built to a Light Rail standard with grade running but, again, certain small sections of grade separation.

I think Dublin will realistically get one more full metro line at most and it will run SW-NE, taking in Tallaght, the Greenhills/CityEdge site, Crumlin, The Liberties, Marino/The Clontarf GC site, Whitehall, Coolock and Clongriffin, all places with high density or space to build high density residential units.

As others have also said, the DART lines post-DU will also operate as two high capacity and high frequency metro-style heavy rail lines, similar to the S-Bahn style systems of many European cities.

The East West issue will be sorted by DART Underground, and all other radial routes into the city will be Luas, in varying degrees of street-running tram or Green Line style higher frequency light rail.

Many posters, especially @bk have been very kind to you above, offering great explanations and information in what I perceived to be a kind, friendly, and not at all condescending manner. It is unfair to suddenly get belligerent at them when they are explaining why certain ideas don’t make sense, or are not going to be a runner.