Irish Railway Record Society
LUAS
SYSTEM EXTENSIONS
Line A1 (Belgard-Citywest) Agreement has been reached between the RPA and Citywest Luas Ltd, a consortium of private developers, for the construction of Line A1 of the Luas system under a public private partnership arrangement. The line, which will diverge from the existing Red line between the Belgard and Cookstown stops, will serve Fettercairn, Cheeverstown, Citywest Campus, Fortunestown and Saggart. A Park & Ride site is proposed for the Cheeverstown stop.
The RPA is ready to make an application for a Railway Order under the ‘Critical Infrastructure’ legislation to An Bord Pleanála. Subject to a successful passage through the planning process, the line is scheduled to open in 2010 and is expected to carry about 5 million passengers per annum.
Line B1 (Sandyford-Brides Glen) The High Court case brought by the owners of Clonlea House against the Minister’s decision to grant the Railway Order for Line B1 took place on 23 January 2007. Shortly after the hearing opened it was adjourned to facilitate talks between the two sides. During the afternoon the court was told that the case had been settled, thus clearing the way for work to commence.
CLG Ltd. has been contracted to carry out minor works, which will include site clearance, necessary changes to fences and walls, etc. These works started in the week commencing 26 February, and should be completed in about 5 months. A contract for the upgrading and realignment of Ballyogan Rd, including the diversion of underground pipes and cables has been awarded to SIAC Ltd. This work commenced in early April and it is expected that it will be completed by mid-2008.
The contract for the construction of major structures along the route has been awarded to Laing O’Rourke. This contract includes the bridge across the Leopardstown Rd roundabout, two bridges over the M50, an underpass at Laughanstown and a bridge over the Wyattville Link Rd. It is expected that this work will also be completed by mid-2008.
Line BX (St Stephen’s Green-City Centre) The RPA held a series of open days during late January/early February as part of the second round of public consultations. Route option F has been selected as the preferred option. This proposes a double track alignment running from an end-on connection with the Green Line at St Stephen’s Green West via St Stephen’s Green North, Dawson St, Nassau St and Grafton St to College Green. From College Green the line would follow a single track loop via Westmoreland St, O’Connell Bridge, O’Connell St, Cathal Bruagh St, Marlborough St, a new bridge over the River Liffey, Hawkins St and College St back to College Green. It is expected that an application for a Railway Order will be made in early 2008.
Line C1 (Connolly Station-Point Depot) As no applications for a judicial review were made during the two months following the Minister’s signing of the Railway Order it came into force on 18 February.
Site investigations along the length of Mayor St Lower were carried out during February. This work included the sinking of boreholes and the marking out of services’ routes.
One of the main features of the extension to the Point Depot will be the bridge over the Royal Canal. The RPA and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority appointed London based architects, Future Systems and Arup Engineers to design the bridge, which will span the canal at the eastern end of Mayor St Lower. The bridge, which will be the centrepiece of the planned Royal Canal Linear Park, is almost as wide as it is long and accommodates Luas lines, traffic lanes, cycle paths and walkways. It broadens and dips down in the middle to take pedestrians and cyclists close to the water. The bridge will also feature specially designed lighting to emphasise its unusual, structural quality.
Future Systems has a strong reputation for its architectural achievements and was involved in the design of the Naples metro system. The tendering process for the bridge construction will commence in June, with work expected to start in the autumn.
Line D (City Centre-Liffey Junction) Work on developing this line, which will extend Line BX via Grangegorman to Liffey Junction, is currently at the preliminary planning stage. Public consultation initiatives are expected to commence in late 2007.
Line F (City Centre-Lucan) This line is currently at the preliminary planning stage. As possible route options are identified the RPA will commence the public consultation phase of the process, focusing initially on route selection.
Rathfarnham Line On 30 January the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD, announced that a feasibility study into the establishment of a Luas line linking Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold's Cross to the city centre is to be undertaken. Making the announcement, the Minister stated that 'Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold's Cross and their surrounding areas, are long-established thriving communities. It is vital that the workforce in the area and its residents have access to a range of public transport options if we want to get people out of their cars and on to public transport'.
The RPA has commenced preliminary investigations into the feasibility of the line.
Copyright © 2007 by Irish
Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: August 12, 2007
.