Railway Order Application for Luas Line A1 (Citywest Extension)

Date: 18 December 2007

The Railway Procurement Agency has announced that it will formally make a Railway Order Application for Luas Line A1 (Citywest Extension) later this week. Luas Line A1 is a 4.2km light rail spur line from the existing Red Line at Belgard and will run all the way to Saggart in west County Dublin.

The Railway Order Application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála and if granted, will provide the powers necessary to construct, operate and maintain the line between Belgard on the Luas Red Line to near Saggart (east of Garter Lane). This is the first RPA project for which a Railway Order will be sought under the new statutory framework introduced by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 which is designed to increase efficiencies in the planning process.The new Luas Line A1 is part of the Government's Transport 21 investment programme.

It will serve existing communities and developments underway and planned between the existing Luas Red Line and Saggart including Citywest. Stops on Luas Line A1 are proposed at Fettercarin, Cheeverstown, Citywest Campus, Fortunestown and Saggart, a modification to the existing Belgard Stop and a Park & Ride Facility is proposed for Cheeverstown. The line will terminate at the proposed Saggart Stop.

The construction of the new line is expected to be completed in 2010 and is expected to add an extra 5 million passenger trips per annum to the Luas network.

The proposed line is a Public Private Partnership Initiative with the support of RPA, South Dublin County Council and a consortium of local property developers (Airscape Ltd. - a subsidiary of Harcourt Development Ltd., HSS- owned by Jim Mansfield and Davy Hickey Properties - who own and control the Citywest Business Campus). RPA has reached agreement with this consortium supporting the development of Line A1. That agreement provides for the consortium being responsible for the delivery of a substantial part of the works for the Line, providing land and making a capital contribution to RPA. The arrangement is in line with RPA and Government policy as outlined above and by capturing part of the increase in development potential resulting from the Line represents good value for money for the Exchequer.

To view a copy of the newspaper notice announcing that RPA is to apply for this Railway Order and providing details of where and when documents may be inspected and purchased, how and by when submissions may be made to An Bord Pleanala, etc. please go to www.rpa.ie/luas/railway_orders

For Further Information contact the Railway Procurement Agency