The proposal is not a replacement for metro north but a next step after interconnector to address the Northern line issue and the submission identifies MN and IC as being priorities for completion before this. Cost and planning wise it would take some years but ideally that work would be done when interconnector was being built. Thats why it was sent in under the 2030 vision its clearly not a runner in the current situation. Remember only 25% of metro north business is Dublin Airport so its not a replacement there is a need for some form of north south link
There would be a huge amount of reusability in design and equipment terms as you would reuse the TBM and general station design already paid for elsewhere
The professional view on the DART spur is its a not a runner on its own. The general view on DART to airport is to lash down a tunnel from the city to the airport. Until now no one has actually put a pen to paper and to propose and reason out a route. We simply picked Killester on the basis of space available and it would allow a multitude of options as in Connolly or IC and it avoids going under the Port Tunnel as well
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