View Single Post
Unread 12-09-2013, 00:02   #17
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

Feeding the outer end of the system sounds good in theory (and works in other cities). Problem in Dublin is that DART is neither fast (average speed about 20 mph) or particularly frequent. There is greater growth potential in the longer distance commuter services but while these need to be faster they don't necessarily require to run at the same intense frequency that is required for an inner suburban service.

Some radical thinking may be required such as building a separate Luas line to serve inner suburban locations, for example the area between Clontarf Road and Howth Junction. The LUAS might then continue to Howth along the existing railway route where trams would probably make better headway than the existing DART service as well as being more frequent. DART would then operate express Clontarf Road to Howth Junction and onwards to Dublin Airport as well as Skerries/Balbriggan or beyond. Most places get a better service either in terms of increased frequency, reduced journey times or both. An airport branch becomes a realistic option with frequent fast trains to the city centre. Journey time to the Airport or Malahide would be 15 minutes with major feeder bus or Luas operations serving the areas around Howth Junction, Clongriffin, Malahide, Donabate, Skerries and Balbriggan for instance.

Although passengers on the Howth branch would have to change from tram to train they would benefit from the greater sccrssibility and frequency Luas would afford without necessarily suffering an increased journey time.

As for the immediate future Irish Rail and the NTA should be required to publish loading criteria which should not be routinely breached, e.g a DART should not be more than 65% overloaded for 10% of it's journey or 100% overloaded for more than 5% of it's journey or some such formula. Maybe the numbers would be a little different at peak periods. Overloaded in this context means excess of passengers to seats not crush-load.

Last edited by Inniskeen : 12-09-2013 at 05:26.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote