THE LINK-UP between the two Luas rail lines in Dublin is the only one of three high-profile transport projects likely to survive as part of the Government’s reduced capital expenditure programme, according to political sources.
The postponement of the Metro North rail link has already been strongly signalled and the Dart underground between Connolly and Heuston railway stations is also expected to go on the long finger.
A Cabinet meeting yesterday signed off on what a Government spokesman described as “a prioritised, significant and robust capital programme, especially in the context of the current economic challenges we face”.
The spokesman would not go into detail but other sources have indicated the Luas link-up is likely to be part of the revised capital programme to be announced tomorrow.
The programme was brought to Cabinet by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin, who will join Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore in announcing the details at a press conference in Government Buildings at noon.
Much attention will, however, be focused on Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, since the three projects in question come under his remit.
The fact that Metro North is a public-private partnership (PPP) militates against the prospect of proceeding with it at this stage.
The situation whereby the State is not in the financial markets at present means funding cannot be raised, a senior political source said.
At an estimated cost of up to €170 million, the Luas link-up is planned to run from St Stephen’s Green by Trinity College and up O’Connell Street before doubling back down Marlborough Street and across a new Liffey bridge.
It will connect the Green Line, which terminates at St Stephen’s Green, to the Red Line, which runs along Abbey Street, and also form part of a new line connecting Luas services with a suburban rail station at Broombridge near Cabra.
The Metro North rail link was designed to run from St Stephen’s Green, via Dublin airport, to Swords in north Dublin, using underground, surface and elevated tracks.
The plan envisages the route would be 16.5km long and have 14 stops, among them St Stephen’s Green, O’Connell Bridge, Parnell Square, Mater Hospital, Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue, Dublin City University, Ballymun, Dublin Airport and Swords.
The Dart Underground line is intended to run from Dublin Docklands to Inchicore. Approximately 7.6km in length, it would connect the Northern and Kildare lines, with underground stations located at Spencer Dock, Pearse Station, St Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston Station, as well as a new surface Dart station at Inchicore.
