Budget 2008 transport Spending

[ThomasJ]

So what did you think of the transport aspect of Budget 2008. No major suprises . Rail and luas elements are highlighted.

From WWW.RTE.IE Budget coverage

http://www.rte.ie/news/features/budg...chapter04.html

Transport
I am allocating €2.7 billion for investment in rail and bus services, national and secondary roads, regional airports and ports.

Of this, nearly €1.7 billion will be invested in our national roads network, thus continuing this Government's unprecedented levels of investment in this key piece of infrastructure. We are building high class roads, which are absolutely integral to economic activity and long-term economic and social prosperity.

During the coming year, this massive investment will deliver significantly on the M50 upgrade as targeted, resulting in four-lanes between the N4 and Ballymount and a transformed and fully functional Red Cow junction. The West-Link Bridge will also have four lanes by the end of next year and we will have barrier-free tolling too.

Elsewhere around the country, 29km of dual carriageway will open between Kilbeggan and Athlone, 37km of dual carriageway will open between Cashel and Mitchelstown, and 19km of dual carriageway will open to bypass Carlow Town. All these are key components of the major interurban routes between Dublin and our main regional cities and the National Roads Authority is working to ensure that they are delivered on time and on budget.

Through a combination of Exchequer and Local Government funding over €600 million will also be provided for regional and local roads. This will continue the commitment which the Government has shown over the last decade to the renewal of this vital network.

I am also investing almost €1 billion in our public transport system. This significant level of investment means that right across the country we will continue to make real improvements. Key projects such as the Cork to Midleton commuter rail line and phase one of the Western Rail Corridor, which will link Ennis to Athenry, are through planning and the year ahead will see them readied for service in 2009. Construction is also due to begin on phase 1 of the Navan rail line, linking Dublin to Dunboyne. Irish Rail will also continue to introduce its fleet of 183 railcars into service across the intercity network.

In Dublin too we will build on the great success of the Luas by adding much needed additional capacity on existing lines. By the summer, the capacity on the Tallaght line will be up 40 per cent and construction work will also continue on the line extensions to the Docklands and Cherrywood in South Dublin.

[Thomas J Stamp]

Ok.

1. The capacity on Tallaght line Luas is paid for already (40m trams)

2. Ditto the intercity railcars.

3. The West-Link Bridge will also have four lanes by the end of next year...........

Well, thats all from me tonight - Goodnight!!!!

[KSW]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

Rail and luas elements are highlighted

The rail and luas plans are not highlighted ENOUGH. The Minister could have easily said that the new 22000 trains will start service on the Sligo Line in January followed by the Rosslare Line which is next with futher introductions later on in 2008. Since this is a rail organisation I'm not going to talk about the Roads etc...What about the City Metro and so on? The completion of the Rosslare Resignalling and its next stage, Stuff like this or is this not the relevant Minister. Does this Minister only give quick elements on Rail regards money

[Mark Hennessy]

If 1BN is going to public transport, what is IE's chunk and what does the RPA get?

How much does IE need a year (up to 2015) to complete the T21 pipedream?

[Colm R]

Originally Posted by ThomasJ

Key projects such as the Cork to Midleton commuter rail line

Does this count as another Re-Annoucement?


I'm sick of hearing about the Middleton Railway line. It has actually got the stage where I cringe when I think of the day in 2025 when the politicians of East Cork will be patting each other on the back upon the opening and a smiling FF Taoiseach talking about how he delivers for Cork!!!

And yes, the same argument applies to Navan, Limerick-Nenagh, Galway and everywhere else.


I got myself out of the scratcher today to have a listen to it (I'm doing nights at the moment) and had to agree with Richard Bruton regarding his statement on VRT. Basically what his getting across is this government delivers projects and policy in hindsight - there is no vision. The Celtic Tiger for how many years now, and we don't have anything to show for it. They just throw money at things. We here are a Rail lobby, however the same can be said for other vital parts of our infrastructure - health anyone - anyone home.

So I've been pondering since the Budget, well to be honest a lot longer, but why is it that we are so far behind other countries in our infrastructure. Why do we not have high speed rail intercity. Why in the year 2007 do we still not have a motorway connecting any major cities. Why, why, why!!!

The answer my friends is the Civil War!!!

Ok, I'll give ye a minute to stop laughing - but hear me out!!!


I was having a chat with the girlfriends father recently, who happens to be die hard Fianna Fail!! My family background is Blue Shirt. Anyway he asked me would I ever vote for Fianna Fail. I said I had in the past. It was 2002, and I personally didn't think Fine Gael or other parties would deliver anything worth while.

He was shocked: he couldn't understand why I would turn my colours. He said he doesn't like Fine Gael, but nobody should turn the back on their alliegences. He was actually a bit disappointed in me, as if I had turned my back on my country!!! (By the way, we had a whole other debate on Roy Keane )

Anyway, this is what we are fighting people, and it applies to both of our major parties. If I was a TD for FF or FG, I would just go to the houses and ask the people to turn out on the day where I know they will vote for me. I would leave the rest alone. Whats the point, they won't vote for me.

I had another conversation with a lady from out West last May who said their was local concillor who has been very good for the area, getting lots done and his going in the general election. So I asked her would she vote for him. "No, his a Blue shirt".

So this is why, its complacent, governments in this coutry don't need to deliver. There is a core FF and FG (albeit smaller) and this is the way it works.

Look, across the water - 10 years of labour precedded by about 15 years of Tory rule. And watch it, its coming around, I bet the Torys are back in. Why, not because the British have suddenly grown up and become conservative. Its because Labour are getting a little complacent (nothing compared to FF).


So I know the above is off topic, but where does that leave us here on RUI. Token gestures. Thats all. Two rail projects which really need to get done and have been talked about for years are Navan and Middleton. I wouldn't be surprised if only 1 opened before the next General Election, if that at all. But it makes you wonder, if they are that complacent with these projects, where will stand in 2012 with the Interconnector, the Metro etc.

Rant over!!! My apologies

[Colm Donoghue]

1) there's 2.7 billion lets call them euros for all the good it will do.
2) "Of this, nearly €1.7 billion will be invested in our national roads network" ses the man from Offally
3) "over €600 million will also be provided for regional and local roads." he ses later. pay attention now, ther'll be a quiz later
4) "I am also investing almost €1 billion in our public transport system" he concludes.
This man is starting to stick on the pieces of teflon the cutest hoor of all has shed

5) just to annoy Thomas, the west link toll will almost double in August, from EUR1.57 ex VAT to EUR3 ex VAT.

Mockery

[Derek Wheeler]

I have to admit lads, I was bricking it this afternoon. Afterall Ive stuck my neck out both here and on the national airwaves in terms of doubt on Navan and the Interconnector. A lot of Rail projects in T21 are slipping. Todays budget fuels that slippage.

I had the banjo on my knee for some practise. Its now back in the attic.

It was a positive budget in many ways and in transport terms, those roads will be built! But as Ive been predicting, there is no definitive committment to rail. Can next years budget be any better? I doubt it.

I now think that Metro North may just be slipping into the same "holding area". I really hope Im wrong. I don't want to be right. But it does need to be said on record. I cannot see where the money is going to come from to sustain all these plans.

That is all from the "Eamonn Dunphy of rail transport".

[Mark Hennessy]

Listening to all the commentators on radio 1 last night and this morning, there was not one mention of rail when everyone was talking about infrastructure investment (Roads, roads, roads, airports etc)

Given one more tough year economically and we'll see high high priority rail is

[ACustomer]

Re message 6: you quote a total of €2.7 billion and then mention 3 components (i) National Roads €1.7 billion; (ii) regional roands €600m and (iii) public transport €1 billion. That adds up to €3.3 billion. ???

[ThomasJ]

Originally Posted by Mark Hennessy

Listening to all the commentators on radio 1 last night and this morning, there was not one mention of rail when everyone was talking about infrastructure investment (Roads, roads, roads, airports etc)

Given one more tough year economically and we'll see high high priority rail is

I have to agree with you Mark, all we have heard about is delays with Transport 21 projects this year. No real progress.

I think Derek, you can pt your banjo away, won't be needed!!

Also DOT has been defending themselves over their roads over public transport policy.

From breakingnews.ie

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhmhsneyojkf/

Dempsey defends bias in favour of road projects
06/12/2007 - 11:48:33


Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has defended the Government’s continued bias in favour of roads rather than public transport

Funding of more than €2bn was announced for roads in yesterday’s budget, compared to just €1.3bn for public transport projects.

Mr Dempsey says the bias is deliberate and will continue over the coming years, but the situation will be reversed "in the latter part of Transport 21".

Opposition parties say the move flies in the face of the Government’s alleged support for ‘green’ policies and is promoting car usage over public transport.