Plans to extend the proposed Luas light rail line from Tallaght to Middle Abbey Street as far as Connolly Station have been submitted by CIE to the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
The 800-metre extension, via Lower Abbey Street, Beresford Place, Store Street and the International Financial Services Centre, would take 20 months to build. After examining a number of alternatives, CIE's light rail project team selected a route running from Middle Abbey Street, across O'Connell Street, along the south side of Lower Abbey Street, through Beresford Place and Store Street to the IFSC.
Within the IFSC, the line would run along Harbourmaster Place to a stop adjacent to the new ground-level entrance to Connolly Station, currently being installed. This would facilitate "very effective interchange" with DART and other rail services.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) on Line C - as the link from Middle Abbey Street to Connolly Station is known - concedes that on-street engineering works "will be the most difficult".
Key concerns raised during public consultations included disruption during construction, traffic management arrangements, continuing access to business premises and noise and vibration issues. But there was also "general positive acceptance" for Line C.
Building the line will necessitate the relocation of many underground utilities, including gas, electricity, water, drainage and telecommunications. Last January a newsletter was distributed to all addresses in the catchment area, outlining the route options identified by a preliminary assessment. There was also a door-to-door survey and a series of public meetings.
Detailed consideration was given by the light rail project team to a number of options, including running Line C to Connolly Station via Talbot Street or Eden Quay, but these were eventually ruled out because of the potential conflict with bus movements.
According to the EIS, which was prepared by McHugh Consultants, the alignment chosen for Line C would facilitate easy access both to Busaras and Connolly Station as well as a future extension to serve the Docklands area, probably on the Mayor Street axis.
There would be three stops along the route, at Lower Abbey Street (in front of Wynn's Hotel), Busaras and Harbourmaster Place. The Lower Abbey Street stop would replace the Middle Abbey Street stop, previously proposed as a terminus for the Tallaght line.
The Luas extension to Connolly station was first proposed in the Government's revised light rail plan for Dublin, announced in May 1998. This plan also envisaged that the line would be extended in time to the Docklands area, probably as far as East Wall.
The Government's decision favoured putting Luas underground in the city centre between St Stephen's Green and Broadstone to avoid conflict with other traffic. As a result, CIE had to split the Luas project in two, with separate lines serving Tallaght and Sandyford.
After two public inquiries, chaired by Judge Sean O'Leary, the Minister made orders approving Line A (Tallaght-Middle Abbey Street) on March 1st and Line B (Sandyford-St Stephen's Green) on September 8th. Preliminary works for Line A also started last month.
According to the Light Rail Advisory Action Group, set up by Ms O'Rourke last November, Line A will be open in February 2003 and Line B some six months later. Alsthom, the French engineering company, is due to start delivering the first Luas trams in October, 2001.
The action group, which is chaired by Mr Padraic White, former managing director of the IDA, is examining the feasibility of introducing "interim services" on sections of these routes as they are completed. Preliminary work on Line B is expected to start early next year.
