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Unread 25-11-2007, 08:36   #1
weehamster
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Default [article] €2bn rail link to go ahead despite working 'ghost line'

www.independent.ie

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€2bn rail link to go ahead despite working 'ghost line' existing Victorian line could be used to service some of the capital's most densely populated areas
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By Tom Prendeville

A new underground Dart service linking Heuston Station to the Docklands which is scheduled to cost €2bn is set to go ahead -- despite the fact the two destinations are already linked by a fully functioning but little used railway known as "The Ghost Line". The existing high speed railway travels from Heuston through the Phoenix Park tunnel before surfacing again and travelling through Cabra, Phibsboro, Drumcondra and onto Connolly Station and on to the Docklands.

The neglected rail link is fully functioning and occasionally carries freight and is used to shunt locomotives between Dublin's two main railway stations.

Now a rail user lobby group have questioned the vast amount of money which is earmarked for a new tunnel under the city when the old Victorian railway line could be used to service some of the city's most densely populated areas.

"They are wasting an incredible asset and instead ploughing vast sums of money into a new inter-connector tunnel," said Derek Wheeler of Rail Users Ireland. "The rail lines have been there for over one hundred years and have carried passenger trains in the past and are begging to be used again. It is a rapid rail service that can be up and running within a year. The whole system is just about ready to go."

In the past, the Phoenix Park tunnel was portrayed as an unsuitable, crumbling and leaky vestige of Victorian engineering. But in reality the tunnel was engineered to the highest standards and is vast and cavernous. Approximately 757 yards in length, it was built to accommodate two wide gauge 9 foot 10 inch trains travelling in either direction.

"Transit time to either Connolly or the North Wall from Heuston would be about 10 to 12 minutes and the Phoenix Park route would have the benefit of servicing a lot of densely populated areas," said Wheeler.

"Currently, the lines through the Phoenix Park are fully signalled to passenger standards, with signal spacing adequate to support trains at approximately five minute intervals in both directions." However, Iarnrod Eireann insists that the Phoenix Park route is a non runner and would only add to the congestion at Connolly Station:

"The Phoenix Park tunnel is currently used for freight services and special train services, particularly during the GAA season," said spokesperson, Barry Kenny. "Using the park tunnel would result in cancellations of other services. Connolly station is at full capacity at peak times, and using the park tunnel in this way would not generate any additional commuter capacity in the greater Dublin area. Kildare services could not serve Heuston without an additional platform and track work being provided there, and could not serve docklands without track modifications at a multi-million euro cost."

Three years ago, Iarnrod Eireann had an entirely different view. On February 25 2004, Joe Maher, the then chief executive of the company told the Dail Transport Committee: "We certainly intend to use the park tunnel in the short-term to bring trains from the Kildare/Newbridge area into Spencer Dock because there is demand for that."

Meanwhile, Transport 21's proposed inter-connector tunnel which would extend the Dart service to Heuston and onwards to Park West, Adamstown and Hazelhatch is being hailed as a panacea to all the city's public transport needs. In 2003, it was estimated that the new inter-connector would cost €1.3bn. However, the cost of major infrastructure projects have a history of spiralling out of control, and some critics have suggested that the new tunnel could eventually end up costing €2bn.
Emm... can somebody please explain to me what is this

Now I know all about the PPT or the 'The Ghost Line' (never heard of that term before) and RUI/P11 campaign (one of the first) to use this for the Commuter service and I this my full support.

However, going by this report, it looks like to me that RUI are (in some way) Anti-Interconnector, that it shouldn't be built and that the PPT should be used instead.

This is the first time the figure of €2b has popped up since a certain former Fine Gale spokesperson for transportation used it in a few letters she sent to the Irish Times.

Please tell me that this is just another case of bad Indo reporting.
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Unread 25-11-2007, 10:45   #2
Mark Gleeson
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1. Policy has has been that the Park Tunnel should be used

2. Irish Rail gave a undertaking before a Dail committee to use it

3. They lied and didn't follow through

4. The longer we wait the higher the price

Its very clearly stated http://www.railusers.ie/campaigns/phoenix_tunnel/
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Unread 25-11-2007, 11:57   #3
Mark Hennessy
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I think the tone of the article implies that we do not need the Interconnector which is certainly not the case.
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Unread 25-11-2007, 12:18   #4
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I would love to see the ghost line being used. Connolly-Newbridge/Kildare after all Connolly station is alot closer to the city center... You could have the odd service from Galway or Cork etc arriving in at Connolly's platfrom 2,3 or 4 and departing Connolly. The inter-connector we need there's no fighting on that. All the city center stations should be linked up.
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Unread 25-11-2007, 15:26   #5
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The issue at hand is the interconnector is either likely to be cancelled due to cash running out in T21 or that is will arrive sometime after 2015. Thats 8 years away and things are getting really bad now we need some action http://www.railusers.ie/transport21

All T21 costs are presented as 2004 prices but our investigation shows that cost inflation is included in the overal budget http://www.railusers.ie/transport21/costs.php

We need to make the best use of the resources to hand and its a crazy situtation to have a two track passenger line in Dublin city lying idle. http://www.railusers.ie/campaigns/phoenix_tunnel/

Together with our collegues in the DART for Lucan we have shown that for passengers arriving in Heuston even with 40m trams and more buses there is nowhere near the capacity to move people into the city as the Kildare route project hits. That has been noted by the public inquiry and a study commissioned.

If 2 trains per hour operated to Docklands (not Connolly) from the Kildare line that would make a huge difference, also serve Drumcondra, Docklands serves the IFSC and is only 15 minute walk to Merrion Square, back of TCD and so on places where people want to go. IE promised both verbally and in writing and where funded, even gave a date for the service to start

Barry Kenny of course has his stuck record line of no capacity in Connolly, none in needed, though funny he says it can't take any more so what of the 1 extra inbound and 1 extra out in the morning rush from Jan 20 2008?

We believe that one platform in Docklands could be connected to the Drumcondra line though the purchase of a small plot of land off Ossery Rd. Cobh operates with a single platform and no current Dockland services use the second platform so there is no practical problem. IE of course cite the need to rebuild Glasnevin Junction, they don't and if they had done the job right we wouldn't be here

Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 25-11-2007 at 15:31.
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Unread 25-11-2007, 16:45   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson View Post
The issue at hand is the interconnector is either likely to be cancelled due to cash running out in T21 or that is will arrive sometime after 2015. Thats 8 years away and things are getting really bad now we need some action http://www.railusers.ie/transport21
Is there any validity in the notion that IE's reluctance to use the PPT for regular commuter services is founded on the fear that doing so would result in politicians killing of the interconnector??

Also, on the subject of killing off the interconnector, I'd like to ask Mark G just how sceptical he IS that this project will actually proceed under T21???
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Unread 25-11-2007, 20:15   #7
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Is there any validity in the notion that IE's reluctance to use the PPT for regular commuter services is founded on the fear that doing so would result in politicians killing of the interconnector??
I don't think IÉ can really maintain that position in the context of their Broadstone proposal. (BTW, I agree with what weehamster and Mark Hennessy said re the tone of the article.)
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Unread 25-11-2007, 20:37   #8
Mark Gleeson
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We got a situation where all the informed commentators, us, Frank McDonald, James Wickham and so all agree that the interconnector is essential and should be going ahead before anything else.

So why is it last on the list?

IE don't seem to be in much of a hurry, they did consultation in first week July, no word since, compare that to the RPA. Clearly to us indicates no hurry and going on the past experience its certainly at the DoT level calling the shots.

Its the usual sensational Sunday Indo, but senior IE people still have to answer for misleading the joint committee, they got money to do the Park Tunnel Docklands service and the public left stranded in Heuston have a right to answers

And of course there is more going on in the background

Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 25-11-2007 at 20:46.
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