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New Luas for Dundrum to Christchurch?
Read more about: Dublin South, Dublin South Central, Government, Irish Politics, Transport, Uncategorized 
The RPA released a consulation document today on the feasibility of a new Luas line ‘E’ from Dundrum to Christchurch, covering Terenure and Harold’s Cross. The proposal for line E was not included in Transport 21 but the RPA are hoping that the study will be included in a later revision of the project. It is certainly an area that could do with a Luas – as long as it is capable of running longer trams.
The only drawback to the Luas is that it has proved so successful. People living on either line have to be up very early in order to be sure to get a spot on the trams, as they are so small. Simon over at Tuppenceworth posted on this a while back in the context of the election.
In the current climate of constrained spending however the deal-clincher might well be that it is projected the E line would fall short of covering costs by E2 million a year. To me that sum appears to fall within the remit of government to cover in order to lower congestion and provide better public transport – the room for bus lanes on many of those roads is limited at best.
It is not all sweetness and light though, looking at the map attached, its clear that you are building quite close to the existing Luas, considering the amount of houses on the northside of the city, considerably more built up thanks to the construction boom, there is a fair argument that the southside is getting a lot of the goodies. Anyway this is all a moot point if the project doesn’t go ahead so have a look at the document and have your say.
Cian, you took the words out of my mouth. Indeed the northside is getting nowt from the Luas. I would suggest that we also need cross services that do not enter the city centre. A service that connects Finglas, Ballymun, the renewed northside shopping centre, the new areas around Clare Hall and then connects to the Dart would make loads of sense. But will we see it?
in short, probably not. Although the road space that would take up and the savings on time it would yield probably make the north side far more needy of such a project. As well as limerick, Cork and Galway in easing congestion.
A service that connects Finglas, Ballymun, the renewed northside shopping centre, the new areas around Clare Hall and then connects to the Dart would make loads of sense. But will we see it?
Ballymun will get the Metro – dunno about Finglas though – will it be covered on the rail line once the DART Underground goes in?
As far as I know, there is a feasability study for a Metro West extension from the junction at Metro West and North for a line down to the new Clongriffin station, to be funded under Transport 21.