[Mark Gleeson]

Cullen pledges Dublin airport metro by 2012

Last updated: 28-02-06, 14:16
A metro service between Dublin city centre and the airport will carry 80,000 a day when and remove 41,000 cars from the capital's streets, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said today.
zq
Speaking at the unveiling of the public consultation for Metro North in Dublin today, Mr Cullen said the journey between the city centre and the airport will be 17 minutes and 26 minutes to Swords.

It will have an initial frequency of four to five minutes, growing to every 90 seconds once demand builds, he predicted.

Mr Cullen said the Metro link will integrate with Luas and bus services as well as park-and-ride facilities in Swords and and Ballymun.

The new line will be approximately 18 kilometres long, and partly overground. Luas trams will be able to use the Metro line.

The planning, design and procurement stage of the project start this year and last until 2009, while construction will be finished by 2012, Mr Cullen said.

"We need and deserve a first-class transport system. We have the resources because of the hard work and enterprise of the Irish people and a Government that works with them," Mr Cullen said today.
"We are one of the few European cities without a rail link [to the airport]. Metro North corrects this and by going to Swords, achieves more."

© 2006 ireland.com
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/bre...breaking58.htm