Announcement of the 10 year plan
November 1st 2005
The Announcement of the long delayed 10 year plan took place in Dublin Castle today. Despite all the hype there is little really new, the 10 year plan simply consists of the re-announcement of a long list of projects. The total cost €34.4 billion, €26 billion from government rest as PPP. Public transport element is €16 billion. The plan is to be known as Transport 21
Taoiseach's statement available here
Full copy of documents handed to those present at the announcement available here
- Interconnector Tunnel ** new project **, contained in DRRTS study of 1975 and Platform for Change 2000
- Dart Extensions ** new project **
- City Centre Signaling Upgrade re-announcement, government withdrew funding in the past
- Spencer Dock Station re-announcement
- Kildare Route Project re-announcement, draft works order published and at public submissions stage, contained in Platform for Change 2000
- Dublin Metro re-announcement, in program for government, contained in DRRTS study of 1975 and Platform for Change 2000
- Luas Extensions most already in detailed planning, contained in Platform for Change 2000
- Consilla Dunboyne Navan ** new project **, but listed in Platform for Change 2000
- Cork Midleton re-announcement, works order prepared
- Western Rail Corridor
- Intercity Services re-announcement
Interconnector Tunnel
The interconnector tunnel links Heuston to East Wall Rd, with stations at Heuston, High Street, St Stephen's Green, Pearse and Spencer Dock. The tunnel will allow trains to run directly from Hazelhatch to Ballbriggan thus provding a second rail line through the city centre. By 2015
Dart Extensions
As part of the interconnector project, there will be a massive expansion of the DART network to reach Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Ballbriggan. Following the opening of the Interconnector tunnel, all rail services will be restructured. Three new Dart lines will be created,
- Maynooth/Dunboyne/Navan to Bray/Greystones calling at all stations via Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse
- Hazelhatch to Ballbriggan via Dublin City Centre, calling at all stations to Heuston then High Street, Stephen's Green, Pearse, Spencer Dock, Howth Junction and all stations to Ballbriggan
- Howth calling at all stations to Spencer Dock then Pearse, Stephen's Green, High Street and Heuston
Futher details on the Platform 11 website
City Centre Signaling Upgrade
This project was cancelled by government several years ago, the work should have been completed by now but now is quoted with a 2009 completion date. Again this is not part of the 10 year plan.
Spencer Dock Station
A station in Spencer Dock on the north quays east of Connolly in Dublin is key to the provision of additional capacity on the Maynooth line and will also permit services to operate from Kildare to Spencer Dock thus for the first time bringing Kildare line commuters to the city centre, this is of particular benefit to those working in the IFSC.
This project was supposedly approved and funded in the 2004 budget. This falls within Iarnród Éireann's current 5 year block of funding and as such is not part of the 10 year plan. This project has again been inexplicably delayed by political indecision.
Kildare Route Project
This project includes the provision of 2 additional tracks from Cherry Orchard to just beyond Hazelhatch. The project has been delayed numerous times by government indecision. The scope of the project has been reduced in order to make the cost more palatable to government at the loss of the passenger.
The works order for this project was recently approved by Minister Cullen allowing the public consultation phase to commence. We believe the only reason the project has reached this point is because the detail of the 10 year plan where made known to Iarnród Éireann in advance allowing them to proceed in the knowledge of the projects with which this work would integrate with. The current 5 year funding envelope includes this work and as such is not a element of the 10 year plan.
Dublin Metro
Despite a clear indication by the current government that a rail link will be in place to Dublin Airport by 2007 it is doubtful that the first sod will be turned by then. A metro line from Dublin city to the airport was first proposed in 1975. Platform 11 fully supports the construction of a metro network for Dublin but we are very concerned by the proposals made by the Railway Procurement Agency which lacks integration, both terms of other transport modes and also on an engineering basis.
The full original DTO metro seems to back on the agenda
- Metro North Route 3B from Stephens's Green to Swords via Dublin Airport (2012)
- Metro West Semi orbital route leaving the airport metro at Ballymun turning to Blanchardstown Clondalkin to Tallaght
To be built as a phased project with the first section Tallaght - Clondalkin by 2010, Clondalkin - Lucan by 2011, Lucan - Blanchardstown by 2012, Blanchardstown - Ballymun by 2014
Luas Extensions
- Connolly to Point Depot 2008
- Link both lines 2008
- Tallaght Citywest 2010
- Sandyford to Cherrywood 2010
- Dublin Lucan by 2013
- Liffey Junction by 2012
- Cherrywood Bray by 2015
Dublin Navan via Clonsilla
- Phased delivery to Pace by 2009
- Navan by 2015
Whole route electified
Cork Midleton
This project encompasses the reopening of the line from Glounthaune to Midleton and the provision of enhanced commuter services in the Cork area. Cork city and county council have to there credit employed effective planning policies to provide development adjacent to the railway line which greatly improves the feasibility of the line.
The project is backed by EU funding which is at risk it if is not promptly delivered. We do not consider this an element of the 10 year plan since it has been announced and approved numerous times yet Iarnród Éireann have yet to receive funding to complete the work. It has been delayed in our opinion purely for political reasons to the loss of the people of the city and county of Cork.
Western Rail Corridor
- Ennis Athenry by 2008
- Athenry Galway commuter services by 2009
- Athenry Tuam by 2011
- Tuam Claremorris by 2014
Intercity
Hourly on most routes by 2007. Promises of 187 new coaches, Nothing new here Minister Cullen signed the contracts for the additional rolling stock last year. The first 67 are already built and 2 full trains have already arrived in Dublin. This is not a element of the 10 year plan.