[Article] Minister supports cross city rail link

[Mark Hennessy]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...244068221.html

WORK COULD begin on two underground systems in Dublin next year, following support at the weekend by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey for Iarnród Éireann’s proposed “Dart Underground” interconnector linking the city’s main stations.

As I said tongue in cheek in the members area, the "vote of confidence" from the Minister could be the kiss of death for this project

Anyway, I guess we'll know more after Part IV of the 2009 Budget tomorrow.

[Mark Hennessy]

Also in the Indo

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...l-1699576.html

Now, while passengers will still alight underground at Heuston, the trains will terminate further down the line on Irish Rail land in nearby Inchicore which has ample space for the trains that will use the tunnel.

[zag]

I can hear the conversation now . . . "Lads, d'ye know what ? It's a right pain in the proverbials having to get out here to Inchicore in the mornings. Wouldn't it be great if we could just get on a train in the city (the real part of the city) and get off in Inchicore. Wouldn't it be gas if we could run those new interconnector yokes all the way out here. Hang on a second . . ."

z

[Mark Gleeson]

Not as if we didn't see this coming

http://www.railusers.ie/campaigns/ex..._technical.php

Also means the Phoenix Park tunnel is back on the agenda for use post Interconnector

I as did several other members have quite heated arguments with various Irish Rail and consultant engineers in 2008 and 2007 who denied that a tunnel to Inchicore was the best option

This also means DART to Hazelhatch is back on the agenda for 2015. Irish Rail where not going to proceed with the 4 track west of Heuston until after the interconnector opened

[ACustomer]

It always seemed to me that starting the Interconnector somewhare near Islandbridge Juncrion or Heuston Guinness sidings was going to be a nightmare in terms of disruption and conflicts between Interconnector and Heuston Mainline movements. Starting the tunnel at Inchicore is just obvious common sense.

Some of the "DART to Inchicore" stuff being reported to-day just shows how the media always get things in a muddle.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...l-1699576.html

Now, while passengers will still alight underground at Heuston, the trains will terminate further down the line on Irish Rail land in nearby Inchicore which has ample space for the trains that will use the tunnel.

Then Kildare/Hazelhatch electrification is definitely a separate project.

[Mark]

Victor, this may just be poor journalism and referring to the shortrunning Howth trains which was going to be the case with the turnback facility proposed but now removed from the heuston station box. I assume this facility will now be incorporated into the Inchicore works.

In terms of separate projects, internally, the Interconnector is separated from the electrification of the lines but this would be a normal procedure.

[eugene]

Anyone read this?

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...n-1701838.html

[comcor]

A lot more detail in today's Examiner

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/ididqlsncw/

In summary, the following got scrapped

• Preparatory work for electrification of the Maynooth line.
• Preparatory work on an upgrade of Cherry Orchard-Inchicore line.
• Construction of a new railway station at Kilbarry on the Cork-Blarney commuter line.
• Implementation of the Railway Safety Commission’s programme.
• Upgrade works on Luas power lines.
• Planning on the Metro West line. nFunding cutbacks totalling e20m were also announced for traffic management grants in the greater Dublin area, including park and ride facilities.
• A programme to improve accessibility for disabled persons to public transport also had its budget slashed by e5m to e20m, while e3m of spending on an integrated ticketing project was deferred until 2010.

Considering the roads budget was maintained it's a disaster.

I would like to see a single road project that would do as well on Cost-Benefit Analysis as opening Kilbarry station.