Speech, Minister Martin Cullen T.D. Metro North Announcement

Date: 19 October 2006

Good morning to you all.

Investment in public transport is a critical element of Government policy for the greater Dublin area and I am very pleased to be here today to announce this next major step in making Metro North a reality the decision by the Railway Procurement Agency on the selected route for the Metro which will run from Dublin city centre to north of Swords in County Dublin.

Metro North is a key component in the overall public transport network that this Government proposes to develop as part of its investment programme, Transport 21.

With an overall budget of over €34 billion, Transport 21 is the largest investment ever committed to by any Government in the history of this State. This country is going through the longest period of sustained economic growth in its history and we in Government are committed to having a 21st century transport infrastructure which supports sustainable development, enhances quality of life and underpins our prosperity for generations to come. In essence, we are building a transport system to match this country's drive, ambition and its citizens' changing lifestyles.

As Transport Minister, I am determined to provide a modern and efficient system that encourages people to take public transport rather than opt for the private car for journeys in and around our capital. The people of Dublin and visitors to the city deserve the best possible services, in keeping with Dublin's status as a great European capital. By developing Metro North, Metro West, by extending the Luas network; by providing greater capacity on the DART and suburban rail network and by increasing significantly bus capacity, the annual number of public transport passenger journeys in Dublin will almost double. We are targeting a four-fold increase in the numbers using suburban rail, while we expect that over 100 million passengers will take the Luas and Metro when Transport 21 is delivered in full. Combined with a 60% increase in bus capacity, the target for passenger journeys in 2015 is 375 million as against approximately 200 million today.

But back now to the business in hand and our route for Metro North. This 17-kilometre route was chosen by the RPA following a robust evaluation and a detailed public consultation, which involved consideration of four possible route options. On completion of this Metro line, we will have another real alternative to the private car. Metro will offer a new travel experience for business and leisure commuters in terms of speed, ease and comfort. It will significantly augment a public transport offering which has already been enhanced with the arrival of Luas. Since services commenced, Luas has been a remarkable success. There is continuing strong growth in passenger numbers. It has changed the perception of public transport and is heavily used all day, not just at peak periods. It is making an important contribution towards achieving Dublin Transportation Initiative objectives of securing the future of the city as a viable centre for commercial, residential, leisure and retail activities. The Metro will undoubtedly compound this excellent start in transforming the capital's public transport system.

Running from Dublin city centre to north of Swords in County Dublin and using underground, surface and elevated tracks, Metro North will operate from St Stephen's Green, via Dublin Airport, to the north of Swords in the vicinity of Lissenhall. An estimated 34 million passengers a year will travel on this service, with trains every four minutes, increasing to every 90 seconds as the demand builds. The journey time from the city centre to Dublin Airport will be 17 minutes. The journey to Swords from the city centre will be 26 minutes. It will integrate with Metro West, the Maynooth rail line, Tallaght and Sandyford Luas lines and with the DART at St Stephen's Green. Metro North will offer a high capacity limited stop system on a new corridor for Dublin with quick access to the airport and Swords.

Metro North will have up to 15 stops available for passengers who want to make the journey from the city centre to the airport and beyond. These will be located at St Stephen's Green, O'Connell Bridge, Mater Hospital, Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue, Dublin City University, Ballymun, Santry Demense, Metropark, Dublin Airport, Nevinstown, Swords, Seatown and Lissenhall. An additional stop at Parnell Square is being considered. Padraic White and Frank Allen will give you the details of this route in a few minutes.

The next step in the Metro project will involve work on progressing the design of the route and stations and the preparation of a Railway Order application by the RPA. Construction will be completed in 2012.

I wish to thank the RPA for responding so quickly and effectively to the Government's decision on Transport 21. They very quickly launched their public consultation on route options and have recently decided on this route which they wish to take forward to the Railway Order application stage. The consultation process about the route options was detailed and thorough. The views of the public and key stakeholders were sought on the four routes, as well as any other options which stakeholders considered relevant. I know that over 2,500 written responses were received and significant engagement took place with residents' groups, statutory bodies, business associations and other key stakeholders through a series of open days and direct meetings. I wish to thank people for their cooperation and for giving their time to those discussions. It goes without saying that this level of consultation is critically important to the success of, and the public support for, the project.

This Metro route announcement is a critical step in our Transport 21 programme and I am encouraged by the progress to date on Transport 21 generally. Since its commencement at the start of this year, substantial progress has taken place on all of the major projects, whether at construction or planning and design stages.

Three projects, the Luas extensions to Cherrywood and the Docklands and the Kildare Route Project, have been through the Public Inquiry process, while the Public Inquiry for the Midleton line is due to commence at the end of this month,
The Railway Procurement Agency is finalising an application for a Railway Order for the Luas extension to Citywest,
Work is well advanced on the new Docklands railway station and it is on schedule to open next year,
The 67 rail carriages for the Dublin-Cork route will all be in service shortly and Iarnród Éireann will introduce an hourly timetable for the route in December,
Construction work will begin shortly on the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Athenry and on the development of commuter rail services to Galway city,
The 100 new buses in the Dublin Bus fleet will be introduced into service gradually over the coming months,
The upgrade of the M50 began in August and, on roads generally, the NRA will meet the target it set itself at the start of the year of completing 13 projects and commencing work on another 15 by year end.
Real progress has been made in 2006, the first year of Transport 21, and this impetus must be maintained over the coming years. The infrastructure that we have identified is urgently needed and the full commitment and cooperation of all of the parties concerned is essential if we are to achieve the goals set.

We have the vision, we have the resources. Today's announcement is a major step forward in the delivery of a 21st century infrastructure for a 21st century economy.

Thank you.

ENDS