A chara, – Mark Paul has hit the nail on the head in his analysis of this daft proposal from the DAA ("DAA needs wings clipped over plan to charge for airport drop-offs", Business, Opinion, March 11th).
The DAA’s excuse that it will “encourage people to take public transport” is both patronising and insulting.
The endless recitation of Metrolink as a solution to airport access problems reminds one of a quote from Alice in Wonderland: “Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today.” The start of this project, much less its completion, is further away than ever.
It should be quite feasible to build a rail link from the Belfast-Dublin line at Malahide or Clongriffin to the airport, continuing to Broombridge on the Dublin-Sligo line. Not only would this connect the airport to the national rail network, it would also enable through-running of trains from Belfast to Cork using the Phoenix Park tunnel, restoring a facility once provided by CIÉ over 70 years ago.
We all accept that DAA is not responsible for building rail lines, but the continued absence of connectivity between the airport and the intercity rail system is symptomatic of the lack of a cohesive national transport policy over many years.
DAA is, however, responsible for the shambolic provision for bus services at the Airport.
Most of the local and long distance routes are accommodated at stops on open footpaths, with minimal and totally inadequate shelter for waiting passengers.
Basic infrastructure for passenger information, ticket issue and service supervision is lamentably inadequate.
A number of services are accommodated at the coach park, which is a further walk from the terminal buildings and was originally designed as a pick-up and drop-off point for coach tour groups. Here there is an island platform with a canopy, reminiscent of Limerick Junction station, open to wind and rain on all sides. Ireland of the Welcomes!
What is required at the airport is a proper central bus station, completely roofed and with adequate supporting facilities – in effect another Busáras. The rail station on the suggested Belfast-Cork link could be accommodated underground at the same location. – Is mise,
CYRIL
McINTYRE,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.