On politics.ie the other day I participated in a debate on transport policy and Fianna Fáil’s record over the past few years. While I’m always one for objective analysis, credit where credit’s due and likewise when the opposite is the case, I do think the government has made strides in this area that are not always acknowledged. Similarly there are a few areas where I would like to see more being done. I detail below the arguments I made.
To start with I don’t think the party/govt have done all that badly in the rail arena over the past couple of years, in the time I’ve been an activist on either front anyhow.
When I got involved in rail campaigns I was aware of Platform11’s then proposal to ‘Extend the Dart’ by creating three new Dart lines linked by underground tunnel. I was a fan of the proposal and exchanged correspondence with the offices of both the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Transport. I also championed the issue at the Killarney Ard Fheis a few years back. Sure enough Transport 21 was announced and the Interconnector was a key component. So good start.
Other developments in my own area include the Kildare Route project which is certainly in progress, and due for completion on target. The Spencer Dock station opened in 2007 for commuters on the Western/Maynooth line which relieved the slot contention in Connolly and allowed commuters more choice travelling into the IFSC. Recently moves have been made to reopen Broadstone station for trains on the Southern/Waterford line which will improve contention at Connolly and again represents a step in the right direction.
Metro North and West are badly needed and whilst there may be debate about the routes, Metro West in particular will open up a huge corridor all along the west city which is not particularly well served at the moment, and also aid connectivity meaning that a commuter from say my part of the world (Kildare line) could hop an Arrow to Clondalkin and in one change board Metro West for the airport. With the Interconnector make a similar change at Stephen’s green or Pearse and head for the Southside DART.
The LUAS has been a success and is hugely popular. More lines are planned and the railway order went out for the citywest line just before Christmas. The Lucan and other additional lines can only be good news for the residents in those areas.
Services such as the hourly Cork-Dublin are welcome additions I think, even though some may label them as expensive playthings, anyone that’s had to make the journey appreciates the service. Significant service frequency improvements are due to occur on most routes over the next 2-3 years.
I am also consider progress on the Western rail corridor a positive development.
The government has pledged huge funding, 31BN in Transport21, the Department plans 4BN spending in 2008 alone. Half of this (1.9BN) is on public transport.
Park and ride facilities could be improved but are starting to emerge and I think a congestion charge will need to be considered for city centre motorists within peak hours once adequate alternatives are in place. I believe we are not that far off and a carrot and stick may have to be applied at some point. London has made great strides since it was introduced and even in Dublin car traffic between the canals has actually lessened in recent years showing public transport is succeeding although it’s a long war.
Although a strong advocate of public transport, I would not at all dismiss the progress on our roads. The M11, M50 and M7 are just three roads I happen to use regulalry and have all seen massive improvement in the last couple of years. The M50 might be in flux at the moment but remember only a few years ago it ended at Dundrum. Now I can drive from Kildare to Wexford without ever leaving motorway. This sort of upgrade is occurring on roads and motorways all over the country. The M1 in particular is a fantastic road now and highly praised by anyone who travels North on a regular basis.
While I am not familiar with the detail, in Cowen’s budget speech he referred to a number of local projects in the Cork (and Waterford?) areas, so it seems commuter services outside Dublin are beginning to gain traction too.
Are there things I don’t like? Well yes of course.
I had understood Meath on Track would occur, or at least get a good start under this administration – I’m not up to speed on the detail but have heard murmurs this may not be happening – I think it is a no brainer but I’m not in the Ministers office and I don’t have the whole picture.
The Kildare route project was initially due to four-track as far as Kildare town to include Sallins/Naas and Newbridge stations along the way and now ends in Hazelhatch. I’m still a little suspicious on this one although I’m told by Irish Rail and by some trainspotters of my acquaintance that four-tracking for the inner commuter loop is all that’s necessary and we will enjoy faster more frequent mainlines once the inner shuttles are out of track contention.
I cannot understand the fact that it takes two hours and five minutes to travel sixty odd miles between Gorey to Conolly whereas similar distances to mid-land and Northern line stations can express it in around the hour.
I would prefer the LUAS not have to contend with cars at red line junctions between Heuston and Connolly although it seems to have settled into a reasonably harmonious rhythm at this stage.
The two Luas lines not being joined funnily doesn’t bother me that much. In London which has a fantastic underground there are lots of connections where you have to switch by bus or on foot over ground. The Interconnector to link Heuston and the DART line is a far bigger deal. But funny noone except transport anoraks (including myself) seemed to care about joining the two city centre rail lines yet the world and its mother was in arms over the Luas lines being so.
Day to day stuff is what irritates me most although I see that as implementation of policy and an operational matter for the provider, i.e. Irish Rail. Our line has really dogged punctuality issues of late, which I might well raise with the Minister next opportunity at least he can direct a boot in the right direction and maybe get someone moving on it. Overcrowding was a problem on our line and chronically on the Maynooth line but that has been addressed significantly on the Maynooth line with 300% capacity increases and to some extent on our line through additional services. It seems we’ve been waiting forever for the new railcars but over 200 of them are on the way and the first ones went into service on the Sligo line just before Christmas. Less trumpeted projects such as the new depot in Portlaois will see a step change in frequencies and services on Southern and Western lines, including Kildare, and will open later this year. Stations all along the line will be upgraded under the route project, ineed the planning notice is up at Sallins station already.
So all in all, as far as I can see, it doesn’t stack up too badly.
Note: More info on these projects available at Irish Rail and Transport21 (detail under ‘projects’ tab).
Pingback: View from the Tracks » Blog Archive » Heritage at Heuston
Pingback: View from the Tracks » Blog Archive » Operation Freeflow - Car Free Zones