Re: Re: Metro North

Currently and possibly for the rest of time, Under Transport 21 Dublin will have 3 Seperate Rail based Networks.

Currently we have 2. Heavy rail/The Dart Line and The light Rail Luas.

The Luas, despite being marginally different grades if connected could be one large network.

Expansions have already started to the Docklands and Undeveloped land to the south.

Interconnecting Luas lines with the BX has been held in the ether as a nice idea but awaits planing, aproval and the full extent of Metro North plans to be completed.

The Idea of 3 seperate networks is rather disturbing. But it has been the plan for several years now.

And frankly i am in fully in support of these projects but some aspects seem rediculous.

For Instance, because of lower density the Metro North is for all intents and purpose’s an underground highspeed tram, with little to no room for expansion of existing structures when built.

If this is it’s tollerable. After all Dublin is too small and too sprawled out to warrent an additional Underground other than Dart Underground (interconnector) which will serve the city well.

As the rest of the city relies on private cars and buses and is nowhere near as dense as any comparable city, or well known metropolitan area’s it is almost unique.

Considering Metro North is planed to be of lower capacity and tram like, connection with existing and future Luas routes would sound like a good idea to joe public.

Hope on a tram in sandyford and end up at the airport.

Think of it as having Inter-urbans and Trolleys. Systems that briefly existed in the states before the dawn of the car that were very popular for a short while.

The Trolleys serve on your normal green line, red line, Lucan Line, and possible line’s such as BX, D and Rathfarnham.

Interurban’s would be larger capacity trams in the Metro System that would be modular so that smaller shuttle Tram’s can run to the smaller Stations on the Luas line for interconnecting service’s.

Now this could be done in the future. It doesn’t have to be done now.

Even with the Green Line’s expansion being Luas only, metro north has yet to be built.

Building it to international Grade and not the grade of the luas could be a problem and nix any interconnection in the future.

Tunnels are pretty tight place’s. They could be built wide enough and tall enough for further upgrade, but cost wise we’ll get the smallest option because we’re irish. So it will most likely be international Grade so we can get the rolling stock cheaply and more timely with what will obviously a cost over run and delayed project, judging on everything we ever do.

Metro North’s projected route, and the questionable Metro West, are good investments. Connection with the airport is a good thing for the city.

But Public transport in general is FAR better than what we currently have. Buses ruin the cities main streets. Car Parks cause added annoyance’s and waste space. Traffic in general is bad for any city.

Our so Called Motorways are used as crawl roads to avoid going into the less direct and winding roads of the city centre.

Dublin historically had a tram network that was the envy of europe. We ripped it up when shop owners in the city wanted Cars outside, so they could make an investment in car parks and spaces and make money.

That was a mistake, and we’re paying for it.

We have a chance to lead the future and fully re-introduce tram’s to the Streets, and possibly underground as well for more direct service’s.

Metro North has many flaws. And is the most likely Dublin based project that was a centrepiece to be scrapped.

Luas Expansion and the Dart Underground however SHOULD NOT be Scrapped.

IF we have to pay for it for just as long as NAMA then it should be neccissary for the future of this country.

Car’s and Buses are not sustainable and a city split up by traffic ridden roads is not as pleasing to it’s people as one they can be proud to both live and work in.

Dublin is potnetial waiting to happen. It’s been slaughtered and butchered throughout history by everyone, especially the Irish in the past 60 years. From dense slums to sprawled out faux-cosmopolitan Capital.

I love Dublin and yet even I no longer live there. I may be in Dublin every day for college but i live out in Drogheda.

Surely with Good transport, such as the Luas Network, Metro Network and Heavy Rail Dublin can pull people back to the city and keep them there!

Higher density Developments that respect the hight restrictions and history of the city should also be incouraged.

Most of it is all a pipe dream. But it’s not like it’s outlandish now is it?:rolleyes: