Two month city centre closure
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I understand the need for the closure, but the replacement bus service seems a lot less convenient than it could be. Would it not have been possible to run it along the Luas tracks (even if a diversion around O'Connell St/Marlborough St is necessary)?
Connolly/Busaras seem particularly poorly served in the westerly direction, with the nearest stops at Jury's Inn or Eden Quay. Also, it's not entirely clear whether you need to be tagged on for the duration of the journey. If you are going from Temple Bar to Sir John Rogerson's Quay, do you need to walk up to Jervis, tag on, walk back to the bus, then get off at the Spencer Hotel, walk up to Mayor St to tag off, then walk back over the bridge? There are a lot of city centre journeys that are easy on Luas that the bus service just seems too much effort for. |
I don't see the bus service lasting the full 2 months, barley anybody will use it!
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I understand the need for the closure of Luas between Jervis and the Point. However, the replacement bus service seems poorly planned.
Connolly Station and Busaras seem to be particularly poorly served by the replacement service, especially westbound where the nearest stops are Jury's Inn and Eden Quay, and I suspect for most people it will be as easy to walk to Jervis. Would it not be possible to run the buses along the Luas red line tracks? I realise that it would probably be necessary to divert onto the quays to get around O'Connell Street and Marlborough street, however, it should be possible for the bus to start at the Jervis Luas stop, run down Liffey St to the quays, stop at Eden Quay as a replacement for the Abbey stop, and rejoin the Luas tracks at Beresford Place. In the westerly direction it would probably be necessary to Loop around Busaras, turn back onto Memorial Road, cross over Talbot Bridge and along George's Quay and Burgh Quay before turning onto O'Connell Street, using one of the O'Connell St stops as a replacement for the Abbey Station. It could then rejoin the Luas tracks to Jervis. I wonder if they considered something like this? |
From Connolly to Point no issue with use of the Luas tracks, but the bus could not trigger the AVL loop for the junctions,
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Plus the simple fact that the route is not signalled for road traffic at the junctions!
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wouldn't it be better for dublinbikes to offer a special discounted membership to luas customers for the two months. they'll be able to use the line (they already do anyway)
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Should it really take 2 months closure? Could they not lay the cross-city line tracks up to a couple of meters from the existing tracks and then to the close-in work and the actual crossings in a series of night-time and weekend possessions?
I wonder how long the disruption lasts in other cities where existing lines are being added-to or crossed. |
From an outsider's perspective it is hard to see why it should take so long.
A few years ago, I used to travel to Germany every couple of weeks - mostly to the same city. One trip, I arrived after being away for 2 weeks and there was a 2 km stretch of tram line dug up. 2 weeks later, it was all back up and running again. I shudder to think what will happen in 20 or 30 years when it's time to renew the Luas rails. There is no real reason why westbound buses couldn't use the tracks between the Point and Amiens Street. Eastbound is a bit trickier. But, aside from Connolly the bus stops on that stretch aren't more than a couple of hundred metres away from the tram so it isn't a major issue. |
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It's not just two lines crossing one another - there are sets of points to install at both locations on the existing tracks. |
They had expected they would be able to operate with minimum disruption by overlaying the section from Arnotts to the Abbey Theatre with raised (100-200mm) track.
The expected length of closure and the mediocre, disconnected bus service are both disappointing. It doesn't mention a frequency or timetable. Operating the bus from Heuston Station would be a lot more useful. Operating a bus terminus in the bus lane on Bachelors Walks would seem problematic. Operating bus services from Jervis stop would be problematic as Abbey Street Upper is shared with general traffic. However, east of the construction works it would be eminently possible. Quote:
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Tell me if I have this right:
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I imagine there will also be reduced frequency west of Jervis given that only one track will be in use between Jervis and Smithfield. It will be interesting to how this will be controlled !
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The two diamond crossings between the Red and Cross-city lines were installed within a week of the closure. I presume the two connecting turnouts are similarly capable of being installed quite quickly. It make the two-month closure look more unwarranted than ever.
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Similar work in Switzerland would have been done in a week with proper bus substitution while the line(s) remained closed.
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The main tram lines through the city centre in nearby Munich are closed from mid-May until mid-September due to major civil works. That's four months! I do love how people in this country seem to immediately be experts in civil engineering and can tell exactly how long they should take. |
Stalin would have had it done in a few days
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As would Brunel :) Probably both would have incurred a few casualties along the way.
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