Was reading there this morning that there is going to be plenty opposition banded about in relation to the proposed metro line from O'Connell St out to the airport. Talk of 5000 jobs at risk (probably a highly inflated figure), and O'Connell St being dug up again for 18-24 months! Some going seeing as its not all that long ago since the last construction finished. While I'm happy to see a form of transport being introduced that will take you from the city centre out to the airport in 17 minutes, starting all over again with construction work in the city centre is just a massive pain in the behind. Intoducing a "dig up the ground and fill it back up" policy instead of just tunnelling underneath the ground and causing alot less hassle seems a bit ludicrous - as well as introducing two stops on O'Connell St Don't know about ye, but last time I looked at that street it didn't look like it would warrant two metro stops. Anyways, thats my mini morning rant out of the way What ye think about it? http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1203/metro.html
You see, in other poorer countries, when something is proposed, it's built, no questions asked. Here, it's how many jobs will be lost. Dublin is crying out for a Metro system, and more than one line too. O' Connell Street has been a building site for years. A metro line being created will make little difference to it's current appearance. Noone seems to notice how many jobs will be created during it's construction. If people are that concerned about it, just build it at night, when nobody else is working. But we still haven't grasped the advantages of building at night yet, have we??
I know. It's unbelievable! 3x8 hour shifts (just for arguments sake) and see how quickly it'll be built. Also, stiffer penalties on overruns by the govt rather than handing out the dosh/bending over would be a nice thought too
Well considering what a complete balls they made of the port tunnel would you really let them start a metro in O'Connell street? At the moment you can get the DART to Howth Junction and get a bus from there. Surely they could find a way to incorporate the existing train line and pick a point perhaps after the junction that a track veers off and goes to the airport. Half the job would already be done or does that make too much sense
I guess the problem is volumes. Darts get extremely packed during peak hours. Now imagine sticking a few tourists on with luggage and they become more packed. Also the metro isn't just for the airport, it's to serve the areas between and up to Swords (I believe).
Luas and Metro works are supposed to be going on in OCS at the same time. Well, that's the plan anyway. How it's possible to join up the 2 Luas' at this point, I don't know, as there simply isn't the space for trams on either side of the river. There's no room on Dawson Street, or Grafton Street, or OCS to build overground tracks, never mind run an efficient transport system.
I read about them trying to join up the 2 LUAS lines but I cant see how its possible unless they go underground and knowing the government they would hire people who would come up short into the Liffey.
I remember years ago they said the couldnt build an underground because the ground was too hard! its really hard to see where the two luas lines will meet up but im not holding my breath. How long have they been working on that section of the m50?
Thats gas, I remember hearing that it couldn't be built cos the ground was too soft! Both stories were probably thrown out by both governments just to appease punters and keep them at bay. And this is what peeves me off the most - they dig up and disrupt the whole of O'Connell St for the past couple of years and as soon as everything is clear up they come up with this great idea to wreck the joint again!
I think it's logistically impossible, without underground stops. A possible solution, would be to connect the Green Line to Pearse Street station, where commuters could get the train to Connolly which connects with the Red Line there. There would be enough space for the green line, to head out towards Baggot Street, turn left to head down Merrion Sq, and go down Westland Row to Pearse Station. I admit it's an Irish solution to an Irish problem, but I don't see how they can interconnect the lines overground.