DART+ (DART Expansion)

I think you're trying to misrepresent the situation. I'm just quoting what was promised and comparing it to the reality. There's a gap there. I'm not criticising Luas, I'm criticising the inflated promises that were made ahead of it being delivered and pointing out that there's potentially a bit of that happening with Dart+ now. I appreciate your input but it seems to me that every time there is a failing, there is an accompanying excuse peddled as an explanation. I think, given the history of false promises and false starts, posters have a right to call out the shortcomings of what we're being sold.

Sam Russell: you posted: "Serpentine Ave could be dealt with by raising the track by 3 metres (or so) as there is no station either side. This would allow an underpass for road traffic. (Perhaps restricted height could work, but 5 metres clearance needed for regular traffic.) "

Raising the track by 3 metres would require a total of at least 600 metres for a gradient of about 1% on either side. And 3 metres would still require the road to be lowered by at least a metre. A proper underpass would be better (road gradients can be much steeper than for rail). Maybe Serpentine Ave crossing could be just closed?

Oh no doubt people use it, but it is primarily being proposed because it is a statement piece on the coast. There are more direct routes between the Strand Road and Ringsend still though.

Most will pick when to cross it given the level crossings, which itself will cause issues for cyclists as more cars are shunted up the Merrion Road.

Rubbish. That is about creating a Bay cycle route and being a public amenity is the main goal. That it improves general mobility is obvious (including commuting locally and within Dublin) but that stretch is clearly driven by the public amenity aspect.

It is in no way the most direct route to the Docklands, you have to firstly navigate a level crossing and then take a deliberate coastal route rather than a direct one.

I am not against making a coastal route but it is utter nonsense to prioritise it over the closure of level crossings and figuring out a better way to funnel the the port traffic that needs to get to the south east to there.

Just run at a high enough frequency that they close for very lengthy periods of time.

Then let the well healed locals come up with a solution.

The closure of the level crossings is part and parcel of the DART.

There isn’t anyway that you can discuss them without considering Strand Road and connectivity of vehicular access to the East Link and Port Tunnel.

Irish Rail don’t think that way. They block trains and open gates when there aren’t even cars there.

Maybe the solution is to jusy close the merrion gates from 7am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm.

To speed up trains, allowing more people to be funneled into Dublin.

A flyover from booterstown road onto the coast road beside where the ipas centre is would be far easier to build than rebuilding the rail line.

I've seen it happen, multiple times.