Cullen Launches Consultation on Luas Citywest Link

Date: 24 February 2006

"Luas Citywest a good deal for commuters and taxpayers" says Cullen

In a further development in the implementation of Transport 21, Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen TD today (Thursday, 23 February 2006) launched the public consultation process on Luas Citywest at the South Dublin County Council Offices in Tallaght.

The new 3.2km Luas line, one of the seven Luas projects to be delivered under Transport 21, will branch off the existing Tallaght Red Line at Cookstown. The proposed line for public consultation will serve Cairnwood, Ambervale, Belgard, Fettercairn, Kilmartin, Cheeverstown, Brookfield, Ardmore and the Citywest Business Campus, terminating at Fortunestown Lane. It is also proposed to provide Park and Ride facilities at Cheeverstown, thereby offering Luas options for car users of the N7 Naas Road and N71 Blessington Road.

The link is a partnership initiative between the public and private sectors involving the Railway Procurement Agency, South Dublin County Council and local developers. The Tallaght to Citywest link is estimated to add up to 3.5 million passengers onto the Luas network.

Minister Cullen said: "This is a good deal for commuters and taxpayers alike. A new public transport service will be on offer to new communities with developers contributing to the cost. This means savings for taxpayers, not only in construction costs but significantly, in land costs too.

"The Citywest area and communities like Fettercairn and Cheeverstown have seen real expansion in recent years. With a growing population comes growing transport needs, needs that Luas Citywest will help meet.

"The Citywest Business Campus alone has over 80 companies with thousands of people making the daily trip to work there. Luas Citywest will help sustain these jobs and promote further prosperity in the Citywest area.

Commenting on the success of Luas to date, Minister Cullen said: "LUAS, taking thousands of commuters into and out of the city everyday, is an integral part of our public transport infrastructure. It is the transport of choice of over 400,000 people every week. Half of these people would have previously driven in and out of the city centre. Its success has surpassed all expectation and is due in no small way to its frequency, reliability and convenience for all who use it. By integrating LUAS with other transport modes, including bus, rail and road, the Governments transport policies will make a further difference."

The public consultation phase is expected to conclude in April. The RPA will consider the proposed route taking account of views submitted by those who participate in the public consultation.

ENDS
Further info: Dan Pender 01 6041090 / 087 2313415

Transport 21 and Luas

There will be 7 new Luas projects under Transport 21. They are:
1. Connolly Station to the Docklands

1.5 million passenger journeys per annum
Completion 2008

2. Tallaght to Citywest

4 million passenger journeys per annum
Completion 2008
50% of the capital cost of the line to come from private sector

3. Sandyford to Cherrywood

7 million extra passenger journeys per annum
Completion 2010
50% of the capital cost of the line to come from private sector

4. Connecting two existing lines in City Centre

Completion 2008
5 million extra passenger journeys per annum

5. City Centre to Liffey Junction

Serving the new Dublin Institute of Technology campus at Grangegorman. Furthermore, it will connect with the Maynooth suburban rail line around Liffey Junction. This means that, for example, somebody travelling from Maynooth to, say, Sandyford will be able to transfer from suburban rail to Luas at Liffey Junction.
Completion 2012

6. City Centre to Lucan

20 million extra passenger journeys per annum
Completion 2013
To serve areas like Liffey Valley, Esker, Balgaddy and Adamstown areas

7. Cherrywood to Bray

Allows passengers interchange onto the DART and suburban rail services.
This means that, for example, somebody travelling from Cherrywood to, say, Dun Laoghaire will be able to take the
Luas to Bray and then transfer onto the DART for Dun Laoghaire.
Completion 2015