[Colm Moore]

An Bord Pleanála approves most of plan for Metro North

Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 12:12 PM

Ambitious plans for an underground rail link connecting Dublin city centre to the airport were given the green light today.

Works on the multi-billion euro Metro North, which is described as the biggest transport project in the State’s history, could begin next year depending on Government backing.

An Bord Pleanala approved the scheme, which includes removing historic statues from along O’Connell Street during construction and building an underground stop at the controversial site for the new Children’s National Hospital in Drumcondra.

An estimated 35 million passengers a year will use the service, which will travel between the city and airport in 20 minutes, and on to Swords.

It is estimated to cost in the region of €3bn, with the majority from private investors and the remainder of funding from the State. Contracts are out to tender.

Project managers Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) said the decision was a significant milestone in the creation of a high quality, sustainable, integrated public transport network for Dublin.

“Transporting people efficiently and in the most sustainable manner is vital for the economic, social and environmental well-being of any city,” said an RPA spokesman.

An underground track will travel from St Stephen’s Green towards Ballymun before it crosses over the M50 to a park and ride facility and depot at Dardistown.

It will then go underground at Dublin Airport before going overground again to Swords, where An Bord Pleanala cut two stops at Seatown and Belinstown, north of the town.

Enabling works on underground utility lines are due to start in spring, with construction scheduled to last from 2012 to 2016.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said Metro North was a priority public transport project for the Government.

However Fine Gael queried how much the scheme will actually cost.

Transport spokesman Simon Coveney said: “At such a critical time for the economy, it is essential that taxpayers know exactly how much major projects will cost, and what they will gain from them.

“If it is to go ahead, the business case needs to be comprehensive and convincing.”

Ciaran Cuffe, Green Party transport spokesman, said Metro North could change the shape of Dublin for the better over the next century and create 4,000 direct construction jobs as well as 2,000 indirect jobs.

“Metro North, a vital piece of infrastructure; 10 years in the planning, will benefit the city of Dublin and its inhabitants for generations to come,” he said.

Elsewhere Dublin Chamber of Commerce maintained conditions have to be put in place to ensure it will be business as usual for companies operating in the vicinity of the works.

Gina Quin, chief executive, added: “The project will lead to improved commuting times for the capital’s workforce to the city centre and the surrounding Greater Dublin area.

“Metro North will also help to stimulate economic recovery by making Dublin an easier place to live and work.”


Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...#ixzz13mE886BA

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...h-2399465.html

Government signals end of line for Metro North



By Paul Melia

Friday October 29 2010

THE Government has signalled that the Metro North light rail system to Dublin Airport may be scrapped -- despite being given the green-light by planners yesterday.

In a clear indication that the €2.5bn project was under threat, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said the money might not be available to build the line.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen also refused to say if the project -- which would create up to 4,000 jobs -- would go ahead.

An Bord Pleanala yesterday granted planning permission for the 15km light-rail project which will link St Stephen's Green with Swords.

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has already spent €130m and plans to spend another €85m next year on pre-construction works. But it cannot go ahead until the Government signs off on the project.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday said a formal decision would be made at the end of next year.

Mr Cowen also refused to commit to the project.

"Obviously discussions on the capital programmes are still ongoing and, so, you know, I can't speak for the Government until the Government make decisions on these matters," he said in Brussels.

Ms Coughlan was also pointedly vague. "This is only a board decision. The issue of whether there will be the financial wherewithal to provide Metro North is still a matter of consideration by the Government," she said.

The comments appear to flag a major U-turn as they come just three months after Mr Cowen insisted the project would go ahead.

At a high-profile launch of the Government's capital spending programme in July, he said the money was available and it would proceed.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night warned if the project was scrapped or delayed it would cause serious "reputational" damage for the State, particularly when other major infrastructure projects were planned in the coming years.

Reputation

"There is a reputational damage if major capital projects like Metro North are delayed or don't go ahead," a spokesman said. "It's not to be under-estimated. People have spent €5m-€10m apiece getting their tenders ready.

"If the project doesn't go ahead at all, from an international point of view there will be a problem for Ireland in attracting overseas expertise to build large projects."

Metro North will be capable of carrying 20,000 passengers an hour with 10km of the system underground.

The journey time from Dublin Airport to the city centre is estimated to be around 20 minutes.

An Bord Pleanala yesterday gave permission for a scaled-down version of the line, cutting three stops, a park-and-ride facility and rail depot from the project.

The line has been reduced from 18km to 15.7km.

In a decision contained in a 1,700 page report, the board approved the scheme from the Estuary stop north of Swords to St Stephen's Green.

It includes an underground link from the city centre to Ballymun where it will cross the M50 on a flyover bridge.

But the depot, stop and park- and-ride facility at Belinstown have been refused permission along with stops at Lissenhall and Seatown.

An Bord Pleanala said as the depot was at the end of the line, it was "more likely to result in inefficient empty running of metro vehicles and extended travel for staff".

An alternative site for the depot at Dardistown, south of Dublin Airport, should be considered, it said.

Building will proceed once the Government approves a cost-benefit analysis of the project. This is not expected before the end of next year, and after the two groups bidding to build the line submit their best and final offers.

The RPA welcomed the decision, saying it provided "sufficient clarity" for the project to proceed.

- Paul Melia

Irish Independent

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...282235060.html

Cuffe hopeful of green light from Coalition

MARY MINIHAN and ARTHUR BEESLEY

THE GREENS are “hopeful” Metro North will get final approval from Government, according to Minister of State for Sustainable Transport Ciarán Cuffe.

He claimed the rail link from St Stephen’s Green in Dublin to Swords would create 4,000 construction jobs, as well as 2,000 other posts linked to the project during the construction period.

“I am now hopeful that the Government will give final approval to the project so that the works can proceed without delay,” Mr Cuffe said.

He warned that failure to balance investment in road infrastructure with comparable investment in “high quality” public transport would see a return to a gridlocked M50 in years to come.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen declined to give any indication of his thinking on the initiative when questioned by reporters in Brussels yesterday.

Asked if he shared the Green Party’s assessment of the importance of the project going ahead, Mr Cowen said: “The discussions on the capital programme are still ongoing. I can’t speak for the Government until the Government make decisions on these matters.”

Labour spokesman on transport Joe Costello said his party strongly supported the concept. However, given the crisis in the public finances, a cost-benefit analysis should determine the timing of the project.