Yes indeed Mark,Glasnevin Junction could still tick most of the boxes in respect of Bus/Rail integration.
Perhaps in the context of this a GJ interchange could be adopted as a possible "Upsleeve" alternative should the Cerebral one`s manage to find enough "Negative Aspects" to the DrumC proposal.
The issue of total cost vs projected improvement in service level and satisfaction is the major factor for me.
The present inefficient and impractical terminus arrangements on Mountjoy and Parnell Squares will have to be addressed in the short term anyway as DCC is set to get stuck-in to the Parnell Sq Area Improvement Programme within weeks.
My fear however is that this enforced construction disruption will merely see more Termini stuffed up to Mountjoy Square and an even greater level of queuing along Denmark St as the routes all try to access Parnell Sq East on the "return" leg.
Yet again I recently walked along by the New Jurys Inn at Croke Park and took note of the lack of public transport provision along this entire corridor which includes the increasingly popular GAA museum.
If one takes a look at an overhead pic (Cue the Image Editor.....) of the North Circular/Jones Rd/Clonliffe Rd area one views a somewhat densly populated area where Public Transport Users are required to hoof it to get from Bus/Train to front door,whilst large-capacity buses terminate on a largely non-resedential City Square.
The new "Peripheral" service debate has,thus far concentrated on the M50 corridor issue.
In the same manner as the rabbit caught in the glare of the headlights we are transfixed by this Golden Ring known as the M 50.
The reality of providing an improved Bus service (Which SHOULD in turn lead to greater utilization of an IMPROVED Rail Service) should be recognizing how Dublin City has several Micro-Peripheral zones which currently are being ignored.
For example.
1 Fairview-Parnell St-Bolton St-King St-Smithfield-Heuston Stn.
2.Glasnevin Jct-Phibsboro-Broadstone-Bolton St-Parnell St-Wolfe Tone St-Bachelors Walk-Custom House Quay-Sherriff St International (!!).
The above are but 2 routings which while not complete ROUTES could,either totally or in part be incorporated into Rail-Complimentary services.
The salient point remains that some strong level of Traffic Management would be required to ensure the smooth operation of the services and this remains the achilles heel of ANY Bus Service Improvements in Dublin.
Still if P11`s committee can at least discuss and refine such Bus/Rail plans it has to be worth the effort.
Remember the single most threatening thing to Dublins Traffic and Transport establishment is being forced to acknowledge the existance of other,often simpler and better concieved,Public Transport ideas.(Especially if these are being promoted by people who don`t even play Golf)
