T21 Projects Behind Schedule

[Mark Hennessy]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0305/transport.html



Several transport targets to be missed
Wednesday, 5 March 2008 16:43

A new report on the delivery of transport infrastructure has shown that several of the targets for 2008 will be missed.

Construction of the Cork commuter rail service to Midleton will only start in 2009 rather than be completed in 2008.

In Dublin, three Luas projects will also be delayed.
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The information was contained in the Department of Transport's second annual progress report on the implementation of the Government's multi-billion investment programme.

11 items were identified as being behind schedule, including the Portlaoise train depot, which was supposed to be completed last year, but will be finished in 2008.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the dates had always been 'indicative' and all but one of the plan's numerous projects would be completed within the designated timeframe of 2015.

He said, in 2007, 82% more was spent on public transport projects than the previous year and Transport 21 is delivering tangible benefits to commuters.

On the positive side, he said 11 national road projects had been completed and construction started on another 10.

Phase one of the Western Rail Corridor had started and new buses had been delivered in Dublin.

Mr Dempsey pointed out that hourly return services on the Cork - Dublin rail route were introduced and new intercity railcars were introduced on the Sligo line.

[James Shields]

Not rail related, but a sign has gone up on the Samual Becket Bridge (Macken St) Bridge boarding saying it will open in 2010. It was previously to open in 2009 (well, I think it was originally to open in about 2005).

[Coolmine99]

It's being designed to take LUAS out to Ringsend, probably in 2121:rolleyes:

[Colm Moore]

Press Release (http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10428&lang=ENG&loc=2260#_ftnref1)

Transport 21 - Second Annual Progress Report to the Government - 2007 (http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/10428-0.pdf)

Not rail related, but a sign has gone up on the Samual Becket Bridge (Macken St) Bridge boarding saying it will open in 2010. It was previously to open in 2009 (well, I think it was originally to open in about 2005).Its been on the books since at least 1940. :)

So was Rathmines swimming pool - that was demolished last month. :(

[Mark Hennessy]

Tommy Broughan on Morning Ireland this morning bemoned the lack of progress on Cork rail, good to see it actually raised as an issue.

The big ticket items he mentioned for Dublin were Luas extensions and the Metro. No mention of the interconnector.

[Mark Hennessy]

Nice graphic from the Indo:

http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00173/roadplan_173975b.jpg

Full story (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/transport-plan-comes-off-the-rails-as-major-delays-forecast-1307961.html)

[Mark Gleeson]

The interconnector is still on time, if in fact running slightly ahead

The rail projects have mainly suffered from planning delays, bear in mind it was taking 9 months roughly to get the ok, under the new SID scheme an Bord Pleanala are getting it done in 6 months, that even with Christmas in the middle which bodes well in the future for the bigger projects

Ennis - Athenry should be running by end 2008 early 2009

Dempsey gave the interconnector a plug last night on the Last Word while Matt Cooper gave him a rather justified hard time

Bear in mind we are still spending 4 times more on roads than on public transport

[ACustomer]

It says that the City-Centre re-signalling (DASH) is delated form 2009 to 2011. The delay to this is more like from about 2004 to 2011. Why the endless delays to this? It's hardly a huge project and anything which increases capacity at the most heavily used part of the network should surely be a priority.

[ThomasJ]

City centre resignalling project
http://www.transport21.ie/PROJECTS/HEAVY_RAIL/City_Centre_Resignalling_Project.html

Current Status of Project: The project is currently being re-scoped to include the removal of level crossings and the resignalling of the Maynooth line. This is due to the increased demand and growth along the line and in anticipation of the restoration of the Dunboyne Spur. Iarnród Éireann is looking into delivering works on the Maynooth line first, before starting work on the City Centre element. 2011 is expected to be the new completion date for the project.

And towards the bottom of the the progress report press release outling plans for 2008

Work will get underway on the Dublin city centre resignalling project which will increase capacity on the city centre and the Maynooth line.

[Mark Gleeson]

It was promised for 2004 not happening till 2011 ish in reality. Admittedly the signaling between Clonsilla and Connolly is rubbish but still fixing that won't get any more trains through the city

So longer platforms before better signalling - wrong way around
Maynooth line before city centre - wrong way around again

[eugene]

Is the supposed electrification of the Maynooth line be effected by any of this?

[Mark Gleeson]

Just to show how quickly things change

On 31 October 2006, CEO IE said work starting 2007 to be complete 2009 on the city centre resignalling

[clonsilladart]

It was promised for 2004 not happening till 2011 ish in reality. Admittedly the signaling between Clonsilla and Connolly is rubbish but still fixing that won't get any more trains through the city

So longer platforms before better signalling - wrong way around
Maynooth line before city centre - wrong way around again

What exactly is involved in the signalling project Mark??..... Surly it can't be that difficult to resource and get done. No planning hoops, etc, etc.

Don't want to risk the wrath of starting a "technical discussion", so a nice lay-man's explanation would be great :)

[Mark Gleeson]

In really simple terms, they want to rip out the current signalling between Clonsilla and Drumcondra and put in a brand new system allowing more trains to run closer to each other. At least 2 level crossings will be closed, possibly 3 that will mean the signalling can be better spaced. The equipment will all be DART compatible

City Centre works involve some serious works at Grand Canal Dock to get a third platform working

Overall it will mean more trains running closer together at faster speeds, its been on the table since 1999 and nothing has been done

Logically if the city centre is the bottleneck you fix that first as that will be the quickest way to releave the pain on the Maynooth line, more trains now.

This is exceptionally complicated stuff requiring very skilled engineers and has to be done without effecting services.

Far more detailed discription will be up in the members area shortly

[dowlingm]

Mark when you say level crossings will be closed is that likely to be closed outright, replaced with overpasses or is that yet to be decided.

Needless to say the local car-panderering politicians will be wringing their hands despite the improvement to service.

[Mark Gleeson]

That is possibly one of the reasons for slow progress

Remember Transport 21 has all the indications being worked out in the Dáil bar the night before so it was likely to collaspse into itself

[clonsilladart]

Thanks Mark!!!... like your new Avatar :)

Seems ludicrous that they are not tackling the bottleneck(s) first. Who makes the prioritisation decisions within IE :confused: ..... Bet it's not the Engineers!!!!

[Mark Gleeson]

They are just as frustrated as we all are with progress, everything is you have the go to complete phase 1 only, no certainty of phase 2 and that goes on all the time

Irish Rail have indicated they want rid of every level crossing in Dublin, how successful they will be in that endeavor is up to the local authorities.

Better signaling, fewer level crossings means faster journeys, more trains and less likelyhood of things going wrong which translates to better more reliable services for passengers

[dowlingm]

That is possibly one of the reasons for slow progress
getting rid of the Glanmire Road LC caused fierce ructions on the Midleton process so it wouldn't be surprising at all.

[James Shields]

Every level crossing? It's hard to see Suutton Cross ever being much of a priority. On the other hand, I can't understand why they don't use the stadium redevelopment as an opportunity to eliminate the Lansdowne Road one.

[Mark Gleeson]

One key thing coming to the fore here is the scale of works required to deliver Transport 21 where under estimated and to be fair both IE and the RPA are very much in the we get one chance we are going to do this right camp

[Mark]

Completely agree about Lansdowne Road. Lost opportunity.

Cant see any of the LCs on the Howth branch being removed when realistically there wont be any more of an increase in frequency than the current set up.

Can see Serpentine and Merrion going but like someone said - no simple solution at the moment.

[Aphfaneire]

Luas Line BX1 or what ever its called has been called off for the time being, as the RPA and Dublin City council have "officially" announced that they are sitting down to figure out how to rip up the city for the metro and other projects without causing chaos.




Hmm, TBM anyone? Also the luas will be over stretched as it is, its a tram, not a bloody bus. Can you really expect to get a tram from Cherryorchard or even Bray to upper o'connel street, transfare and go to the DIT campus or Finglas?, Dream on!