[PR] Luas Citywest Installation Of The Electrical Systems

[markpb]

Can anyone familiar with the area tell me how well developed it is? Is it likely to suffer the same fate as the south end of the Brides Glen extension? I know the hotel and conference center were seen as trip generators but I'd imagine both of those are at risk in the short term.

[dowlingm]

Is there any ballasted track on the LUAS network? Seems to be a lot of slab in those pictures and some I've seen of Green Line.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by markpb

Can anyone familiar with the area tell me how well developed it is? Is it likely to suffer the same fate as the south end of the Brides Glen extension? I know the hotel and conference center were seen as trip generators but I'd imagine both of those are at risk in the short term.

It is fundamentally different. There are existing residential areas along much of the south of the line and to the north various levels of industry from the Roadstone quarry (not a trip generating location) to offices and data centres. There is still scope for large amounts of infill development http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swg...&FORM=LMLTC C

Cherrywood: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=sw7...&FORM=LMLTC C

The NTA's 2030 vision suggests extending it to Greenogue http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swg...&FORM=LMLTC C

The real problem is getting from the housing estates to the stops - in some cases there are huge detours. I have complained about access and I'm not sure what has been done, if anything. http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=d&sourc...08991&t=h&z=16

Originally Posted by dowlingm

Is there any ballasted track on the LUAS network? Seems to be a lot of slab in those pictures and some I've seen of Green Line.

There is a mix of slab, ballasted and there is another type (where the track is flush with the surface and used at stops and roads), but the name escapes me.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Colm Moore

There is a mix of slab, ballasted and there is another type (where the track is flush with the surface and used at stops and roads), but the name escapes me.

That be embedded track

Ballasted track is cheaper to install but more expensive to maintain but offers more flexibility

[markpb]

Thanks Colm, that's good to hear. I'd still prefer to see these lines constructed closer to the city centre instead of in the outer suburbs but I hope it does well when it opens.

[dowlingm]

How would they run such an extension? I was puzzling over this yesterday and as far as I can tell from the RPA map the point at where the current extension ends it seems to be hemmed in by the Hibernian and Citywest Golf courses. Now I don't have a philosophical objection to ramming a light rail line through a golf course but I imagine the members and their barrister friends would.

[Colm Moore]

I'm not sure of the exact details, but several of the Mansfield group companies have or have had difficulties and they might be perfectly happy to dispose of land.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...274418707.html
http://www.insolvencyjournal.ie/more...ger_H_S_S.aspx
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...274266625.html

[Colm Moore]

http://www.luas.ie/luas-citywest-tes...issioning.html

Luas Citywest Testing & Commissioning
08 April 2011



New Transport Minister, Dr. Leo Varadkar. T.D. was in Cheeverstown in West Tallaght today to see the first test run on Luas Citywest, the new Luas link to Citywest and Saggart.

Luas Citywest is the new 4.2km light rail link off the Luas Red Line (Tallaght-The Point) at Belgard and running to Saggart in West County Dublin. The new line includes 5 new stops, 2 new substations and a 300 space park at Cheeverstown. It will deliver a new option in top quality public transport to communities such as Cairnwood, Ambervale, Belgard Green, Fettercairn, Kilmartin, Brookview and Ardmore and will facilitate the developing Citywest business area. It is estimated that 2 million extra Red Line passenger journeys will be made annually as a result of this new line.

To find out more sign up for emails at www.rpa.ie