November 2006

Delivery of Transport 21


The following developments took place in November:


LUAS / METRO

• Metro West
  
  On the 22 November 2006 Transport Minister, Martin Cullen TD announced the second phase in the development of a Metro system for Dublin - the route options and consultation process for Metro West.
  
  Two broad route options have been identified by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). Option 1 starts in Tallaght and runs west of the M50 via Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown linking with Metro North south of Dublin Airport. Option 2 runs west of Clondalkin via Lucan and Blanchardstown.
  
  Metro West will run on the surface and the tracks will be separate from road traffic. It will cross road junctions in a similar manner to Luas, although bridges will be required at major roads, railways and other crossings. 
  
  
• Luas extension to Cherrywood
  
  On 6th October 2006, a third party applied to the High Court seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of the granting of the Railway Order to the RPA for the Luas extension to Cherrywood.
  
  The application has now been granted and the issue is down for mention in the High Court on 4 December with a view to fixing a date for the full hearing.

HEAVY RAIL

• Cork Commuter Rail
  
  The public inquiry into the Glounthane - Midleton project was completed on 3 November 2006. The inspector’s report is now awaited. Once the report has been received the Minister will consider and make a decision on the application for a Railway Order. The proposal involves the reopening of the rail line to Midleton, with stations at Carrigtwohill and Midleton.
  

BUSES 

New Buses for Bus Eireann & Dublin Bus

• On 16 November the Minister approved capital funding of €50m over the period 2007 - 2008 for the purchase of 160 additional and replacement buses by Bus Éireann for use on socially and economically necessary services outside the Dublin Metropolitan area.
  
• On 16 November the Minister approved capital funding of €12m for 2007 to Dublin Bus to part fund the acquisition of 90 replacement buses for the Dublin Bus fleet.
  
• On 6th November 2006, the Minister of State, Pat the Cope Gallagher, opened an extension to the Dublin road bus lane in Galway city.
  

DUBLIN TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

• On the 9 November 2006, the Minister for Transport published the report of the Establishment Team of the Dublin Transport Authority (DTA).
  The report is available to download in PDF format here