Metro R.I.P.
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Excellent article form busrage.com
Dublin Metro Plan Rumoured To Be Scrapped (Again)
29/10/2003
Cash Saved To Be Apparently Used To Build Motorways
Future generations are going to look back and wonder a lot of things about post-boom Ireland. They’re going to wonder about the billions wasted on consultants and reports, reports on consultant reports and inquiries into why a tribunal was set up into the cost of consultant reports. They’re going to wonder why we built housing estates in the middle of nowhere, expressed shock at the extra cars on the road and then promptly privatised, and ultimately destroyed, the only feasible public transport (our humble buses) serving those areas.
They’re going to wonder why we let the traffic grind our very economy to a halt, they’re going to wonder why we stood for it for so long. They’re going to unearth early 21st Century newspapers and see headlines like “Metro given green light” and “Metro to be scrapped” appearing all over the place, sometimes even on the same day, in different parts of the same newspaper.
And now it seems that reality is dawning. If reports from Charlie McCreevy’s office are true, the metro is finally being taken off it’s life-support machine. We’ve been told that Padre Brennan is on his way to deliver the last rights and the RPA getting the boys in to dig it’s grave. That’ll take several weeks though, they only dig for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, and won’t work on match days. With all this in mind we thought we’d reflect and the whats and whys of the whole mess.
New consultants report urges inquiry into there being too many consultants
Even back in the beef tribunal days, it was clear that if you wanted to make money, serious money, law was the career for you. Just wait for yet another scandal, for there is always one around the corner, and it’s down to Dublin Castle with the wig in one hand and the cape in another, easy pickings. These days though the legal profession is a bit crowded, so if you’re filling out your CAO form this Christmas, allow us to suggest another career for you: consultancy.
For example, in September the government commissioned a consultant report into the impact of the Luas system on Dublin, while the tendering process closed this week for another consultant report, this time commissioned by the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO), as a pre-luas and post-luas compare and contrast effort. We at BUSRAGE feel that things have really hit rock bottom when we hear about tendering processes for reports instead of actual, physical, improvements to public transport infrastructure. Odder still is this comes so soon after an oireachtas committee agreed that too much has been spent on reports already.
We have no idea how much these new reports will cost, and no doubt the new restrictions added by the government to the Freedom of Information Act will preclude us from finding out due to “commercial sensitivity”, however we can tell you that similar reports have cost up to, and in excess of, €1m of your money. Upset yet? You should be, because these are just the latest in a long line of reports since light rail was mooted for Dublin in the early 1990s.
That said, the consultants aren’t above occasionally giving their thoughts for free. Michael Webb, managing director of Davis Langdon PKS (DLPKS), was at the National Construction Conference in Dublin recently, and decided to offer his opinion of our Spanish brethren, the European single market, cross border labour, and the metro project as a whole. He said that the idea that Ireland should bring in a “bunch of Spaniards” to advise and construct the Metro was absurd.
We think it’s slightly more absurd for Mr. Webb to get away with making those comments and not have the country’s press make the obvious point: the “Spaniards” are not popular with the Irish consultancy industry because they took some money to spend on a metro, and built one. There was no messing about with report after report, and no money made by a bunch of pen pushing middlemen.
People like DLPKS would rather see your money spent on NDP plans like expanding our road network, after all, every road needs a report, and every report has to be written by a reputable consultancy firm. If the money spent on all the Luas and metro related reports was used on actual building work, there would probably be underground trains all over (or all under) our fair city, and they would probably use a regular Irish rail guage too, making them, shock horror, integrated into our current heavy rail system. An “absurd” idea like that would never have gotten past a consultants desk.
The Infrastructure Bill
One problem with any Dublin metro project is that our laws are not as flexible as the Spanish ones, and that a project like the Madrid metro would not work here because of issues with property rights and planning enquiries. Seamus Brennan announced back in June that to solve this problem a bill was to be brought before the Dáil, the Infrastructure Bill, that would clear the way for the metro, and possibly some other projects.
Well the metro is no more, so you’d think the bill was dead. This is not the case, however, because with a bit of tip-ex, a quick tweak here and there, and some smooth talking the government is expunging any reference to the metro in relation to the bill. This is why the metro was important for the government, not because it would actually get built, but because it could be used as a springboard for other things. It is now, and in reality always was, a way to accelerate the governments road building program.
It will probably pass into law with very little opposition. The government seem to have successfully planted the seed intopeople’s minds that the bill is for infrastructure projects like the metro. Well folks, it’s not, it’s for building a motorway through your farm, your garden, perhaps even your home. It’s for bulldozing places like Carrickmines, it’s for all these motorways the government plan to use to win the next election, out in the commuter belts and remote parts of the country.
They want these projects done fast, they’d really like them done by 2007, as soon as your SSIAs mature and you’re driving down the new M60 to vote at our “local” polling booth. And if you wanted your TD to raise any of this in the Dáil this week, fat chance of that, the lads are simply knackered after their few weeks back in the house and have put it back into recess.
What’s Next
A leak of a “confidential” consultant’s report on Brennan’s €10bn metro plan suggests that it will not get cabinet backing. Instead it looks like there is to be a reorganisation of the DART line. The plan is to reduce the service between Howth Junction and Howth and replace it with a shuttle service. Darts from town would instead head to Howth Junction and then travel up the Northern Line, before joining a new 4km spur to the airport.
This has been costed at €450m, and it is said to have an estimated completion date of 2006. It is unclear how the current capacity problems are to be dealt with, since the Northen Line is currently operating to 100% capacity already. There is no word, either, from the Department of Transport as to how this will effect the current DASH plans to improve the line.
All of this reminds us of a comment we once read, attributed to a member rail lobby group, Platform 11, “Dublin already has a metro, it’s called the DART”. Hammer, Nail, Head.
Just like the Metro link to the airport is now transformed into a DART link and sure close down the DART service to Howth to transform the Metro line into a DART line to the Airport !!– what rampant confusion, stop the lights, is there no end to the doddering and dithering of this government on transport infrastructure “planning†!!
seamus brennan should be hung from the tallest tree……
stupid to drop the metro, but if they do, stupider still to use the dart line, the dart line if full, resignalling and platform work will increase capacity, but not by enough, the north bould line already carries the enterprise and, again, how to get from the west to an airport without bringing your car?
there must be a better way to get to the airport, platform11 have a suggestion using the sligo line.
Is the originally planned Luas Line really unfeasable… serving Drumcondra and Ballymun and on out to Swords
i agree, a good solution is to connect the airport to the rail network using a spur from the sligo line and to connect it to the luas network by running a luas line north via dcu and ballymun.
the thing lost here is a new use for the lovely broadstone station.
A very well written article – though not heartening to read I must say.
Unfortunately I’m not surprised. I hate being negative but with the Luas (a mere on-street trolley bus on rails) taking a ridiculous amount of time and money to build, how could we ever build a metro?!
Of course too, those new Luas lines will solve all our traffic problems too.
I’m afriad the quality of government in Ireland has been poor for a very very long time and until that changes, we can’t expect such infrastructure issues to change. Of course the economy will never benefit in the long term with unsustainable housing development and a lack of an intelligent transport infrastructure and maybe this, one day, will force the issue. Until then we’ll just have to look enviously at our continental neighbours as they travel efficiently around their integrated city transport systems (Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Nuremburg, Hamburg, Prague, Bucharest, Budapest, Kiev, Lisbon, Strasbourg, etc etc).
The only hope is that that one day comes soon and the government cannot avoid it any longer!
That said though – time is needed.
A very well written article – though not heartening to read I must say.
Unfortunately I’m not surprised. I hate being negative but with the Luas (a mere on-street trolley bus on rails) taking a ridiculous amount of time and money to build, how could we ever build a metro?!
Of course too, those new Luas lines will solve all our traffic problems too.
I’m afriad the quality of government in Ireland has been poor for a very very long time and until that changes, we can’t expect such infrastructure issues to change. Of course the economy will never benefit in the long term with unsustainable housing development and a lack of an intelligent transport infrastructure and maybe this, one day, will force the issue. Until then we’ll just have to look enviously at our continental neighbours as they travel efficiently around their integrated city transport systems (Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Nuremburg, Hamburg, Prague, Bucharest, Budapest, Kiev, Lisbon, Strasbourg, etc etc).
The only hope is that that one day comes soon and the government cannot avoid it any longer!
That said though – time is needed because the government have proved, with trying to build a relatively simple tram system, that they just are not up to the task – hence the need for so many consultants.
Once the Northern Line hits the DART’s operational area, all hell breaks loose – there is no extra capacity whatsoever at peak times – it is laughably overstretched as it is.
With regard to Metro, there’s no point commenting or offering an opinion, we all know what a shambles infrastructure planning is in this country – there’s just no point – spend consultancy fees on cleaner buses and give up on everything else. At least then we’ll get some value for money.
Its probably wise to cut losses now. We can rethink building a metro when we are actually able to build with within a reasonable budget and also very importantly, within a reasonable timeframe. The Luas project has proved that we are currently not able to do either and so I guess we should wait until that time happens.
In the meantime though we need to take stock. The consultancy madness is amazing though. As a related aside I thought it laughable when listening to the news last night.
The environment minister was criticising the Labour party who had just ruled out electronic voting. Aparently the Labour party ruled it unfeasible after a study by two of its secretaries. The minister stated bolding that Labour’s study was insufficient and that the dept’s study was much more in-dept, involving the opinions of SIX CONSULTANCY firms. It must be that politicans just cannot make a decision any more – they have to spend a fortune to make that decision. I was just wondering how much six colsultants reports on the same issue cost?!
The Japanese Company (Matsui?) who wanted to build and operate should be given the contract and told to break ground by March. Who in their right mind does not want the metro built?
Rory, to answer your question.. faceless bureaucrats, who work 3 hours a day, consultants who get paid to write fantasy and spineless government ministers who pay and listen to both of them! Then do nothing for months and years and still manage to get it wrong
Metro is a great idea! But didn’t DART start life out as the first of 3 lines in the 1980s, to be binned by the government in 1987 has someone forgotten that report????????????????????????? it took 4 years from conception to reality!
While I’m not advocating using the spur off the northern line, surely the sligo line, phoenix park tunnel- Spencer dock with underground link to meet Luas , could be utilised to a better extent?
Dublin didn’t need a second Metro
Dublin didn’t need a second Metro
I must say that I am rather surprised and disappointed by Platform11’s objection to the Metro, and consequent display of contentment at its cancellation. It is really sending the wrong message to all who are influenced by the lobby group, quite a few apparently. While it was of capital heavy (but not more so than any other major infrastructure project) and not “the perfect solution”, it was A solution – much better than none and/or the money going into new motorways. The latest trend has become “metro-bashingâ€, in the midst of the current economic climate and spite towards certain politicians, many people are falling for it, ignoring the real reason for the project: A real transportation need. There will be regrets in a few years time. We hear all too often how X should have been done in the 1970/1980. History repeats itself
Some comments on issues raised about the metro:
There is a lot of reference to serving “the airport†and how much better a heavy rail line is in that role. Of course it would have been a key metro terminus, however why are many disregarding the other areas to be served, many which are far from any heavy-rail/DART lines. No metro basher has a suggestion for any of those.
Why the fixation that it would have “dumped people in at the base of the spire� That was he first phase and would of course have changed later. Anyway, many people seemingly do want to go to the city centre, otherwise why would so many cities have dedicated non-stop express rail services between the airport and city centre.
People say how poorly planned the metro was with routes changing every second week. No doubt, however with different consultants etc., that is to be expected and does not change the need for the metro itself. If the same logic was applied 4-5 years ago, we would not be so close to the LUAS today. It has its problems (why two totally separate lines and consequent need for the duplication of much infrastructure) however I have no doubt that it will become a vital, much loved, and heavily used part of the city’s transport infrastructure the day it starts operating.
Now for some comments on the new idea, a spur from Howth Junction to the Airport. For a start, it is rather shocking that that three stations with large catchment areas (and the myth that it is just affluent villagers is absurd) will lose direct services, obviously a big step backwards and an ideal way to force plenty of people back to their cars. Every seat change reduces passenger potential by at least 30%, that statistic is from efficient railway systems… imagine it with CIE’s delays, full trains etc.
Furthermore there is a severe lack of capacity on the City – Howth Junction line, any extra tracks is 10+ years away and improved signalling only marginally increases capacity which should really be used by current DARTs/Belfast trains. There is obviously no capacity for direct trains, consequently Airport – City (Tara Street) journey times will likely be 30+ minutes, a minimal improvement compared to Aircoach. Metro journey time with stops en-route was supposed to be 18 – 24 minutes. The concept of “Belfast trains running via or Cork trains running through to the airport†often gets mentioned as a reason for Heavy Rail to the airport, but as appealing as it sounds, there is simply no capacity at present or in the foreseeable future.
I admit that in reality we should be seeing both Heavy Rail/DART expansion and the Metro, however the idea that the former can replace any need for the second is pure fantasy. I very honestly doubt we will be seeing any whole new DART lines and in any case, those would be significantly more expensive to build than the Metro.
Jeremiah
Jer, I too noticed the posts on the platform11 message board on this subject and also felt the metro bashing was getting a bit frenzied.
I like platform11’s idea of a heavy rail presence at Dublin airport but I agree with you that this could not possibly replace the need for a Metro in Dublin.
Its not simply about getting people from the airport its about providing everyone who lives outside the DART and LUAS catchments areas with a frequent reliable public transport service adding a spur on to the DART just does not provide this.
On the cost side of things, nobody wants another LUAS type scenario (and this may help) but I think its just something we have to stomach and future generations will thank us like we thank CIE for having the foresight and determination to build the DART in the 80’s.
Can we have both? 😉
Well I think they should drop the metro for now, as it is a phenonmenal cost for what it gives you. Spending the same 4 billion on extending the luas would be much better.
Just think: 800 million = 2 luas lines
So: 4 bn = 10 luas linesBUT I am 100% in favour if extending the Luas. We know how to do it now – we know the costs, and it WIll work very well, if they keep adding more and more sections. It is very user friendly and much cheaper to build.
Over time we could have a scenario where we have a comprehensive light rail system of 12 lines, building the ten fresh lines at say, a new line every 18 months, for the next 15 years. An outlay of around €270m per year at today’s prices. At a carrying capacity per line of 15,000 per line over rush hour, it gives you a capacity of 200,000. And it means you could go ANYWHERE in the city via light rail.
Contrast that with the alternative solution at the same price of two luas and one metro line.
If the dart can be modified to serve the airport at a much cheaper price, that begins to take care of the heavy traffic in that area.
And finally – I completely agree that the critical infrastructure ‘metro’ bill is a stalking horse for more roads, not a better public transport system.
4 billion is the RPA figure and that bunch of monkeys should not be allowed near another infrastructure project. Let a private company build and run it and you’ll see its price tag drop, even half which brings it inline with the cost of the LUAS.
Ok the LUAS is cheaper but the metro offers greater capacity, faster travels times and is future proof, so justifies the higher price tag. Each LUAS line has to share the streets with everything else making slower, less reliable and lower in capacity.
For example the two lines in construction at the moment will only remove only 2% of cars from our roads. We need a transport system that gets more people out of their cars.
Building a metro is also less disruptive that building more LUAS lines. The reaction from the city traders aside, Dublin can’t afford to be a building site for the next 15 years.
But if it was a choice between your LUAS scheme redeoin and nothing or even the new DART spur, extra LUAS lines has it as Dublin needs to get people out of their cars and soon.
Invest in the future I say.
history has shown us that we need to make investments in infrastructure that may not even reap benefits or justify their cost until the next genereation. imagine cities like paris london or newyork without the foresight of city leaders expending phenomenal amounts of money on massive infrastructure progeammaes. those cities would have choked on their own traffic long ago.
i know dublin isnt newyork, but it is expanding into a large urban centre. we need to bite the bullet and think of the future instead of placating voters with more instataneous cheaper road imrovements. even if the luas system went underground in the city centre, that would be something. i think the present two lines are far less than requirement.
but that said, we shouldnt throw money at the rail procurement agency ever again. maybe private is the only way to go.What is the obsession with building a line to the airport, with the possibility of it not stopping anywhere along the way?
Surely a line to the airport, direct or otherwise is the very least of the city’s concerns, what about serving Ballymun and the plethora of other areas of the city, north and south, in need of public transport commuter services – a line to the airport to serve one-off trips for business people and holiday-makers is hardly the most pressing of matters for Dublin transportation.
Solve everyday routes, hence the long-suffering citizens of this city first, and then meddle about as much as you want with an airport line.
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