Dublin People - Luas study finds fault with proposed line

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Luas study finds fault with proposed line

Thursday, 15 May 2008

The Government has been urged to consider alternative route options for a proposed Southside Luas line after a feasibility study found the project would not meet its operating costs and would require the compulsory purchase of a substantial amount of property.
The study conducted by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) found that the most feasible route on the line from Dundrum to the city centre via Rathfarnham would have "considerable adverse impacts" and would not cover its operating costs of e1.5 million per annum.
The Government would also have to purchase the gardens of around 150 private residences and 10 private buildings along the proposed route.
The feasibility study was presented to local councillors and TDs at a meeting last week.
The study line selected as Line E is approximately 9.8km in length and begins on the northside of the city at Constitution Hill (Broadstone) and terminates at Dundrum on Churchtown Road. Line E would serve the Christchurch, Harold’s Cross, Terenure Village and Rathfarnham Village areas.

The route that was selected as the most viable option begins at Christchurch and travels down Patrick Street and Clanbrassil Street before crossing the Grand Canal into Harold's Cross.
The line includes a track between Harold's Cross and Terenure. The outbound track would travel down Brighton Square and onto Brighton Road and the inbound track would run along Terenure Road North, linking in with the outbound track at Rathfarnham Road.
It would then continue onto Grange Road and Churchtown Road, terminating in Dundrum, where an interchange with the Luas Green line would be built.
A part of the route, which would have brought the line from Christchurch over O'Donovan Rossa Bridge to Constitution Hill at Broadstone, was found to be impracticable.
The study stated that there were too many engineering difficulties, including the vertical clearance for a tram at Christchurch Arch, the unsuitability of the bridge and the steep decline at Winetavern Street.
It was also assessed that if built, the E line would have an adverse impact on traffic and would require the removal of the Rathfarnham Quality Bus Corridor.
Commenting on the study the Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Olivia Mitchell, said the Luas link-up to South Dublin, which had been promised by the Government, but then dropped from Transport 21, must go ahead.
She said the study pointed out that the route was feasible but unlikely to go ahead partly due to the requirement to purchase a significant amount of land as well as projected traffic and congestion issues in Terenure.
“Prior to the election the Government promised a feasibility study on the South Dublin Luas link-up, just to get it through until the election was safely over,” she said.
“Other options need to be examined to ensure that the Luas is extended to these areas. The Government must immediately come up with other ways of serving these areas and ensure they are part of the overall Luas network.”
A spokesperson at the Department of Transport said: “The current position is that the feasibility study was published on May 2 and the RPA made a presentation to the local TDs along the proposed route.
“This is the commencement of the public consultation on the matter,” the spokesman said. “Newsletters started issuing from the same date to residents along the line surveyed and to other interested parties. Anyone is now free to respond to the RPA with their views which will be considered by the agency.”

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