City centre link between Luas red and green lines may face delays

Construction of the city centre Luas line linking the current red and green lines may be delayed to coincide with work on the proposed Metro North, beginning in 2009, it has emerged.

The Railway Procurement Agency yesterday confirmed progress on the centre link, known as line BX, was not as fast as had been hoped.

Speaking at the launch of route options for the Dublin to Lucan Luas line, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said the difficulty was that construction of line BX could run into the construction of Metro North, which he said was to start in 2009.

Mr Dempsey said the choice facing the city was "do you have the streets dug up for five to seven years or can you do it all together in a shorter time-frame".

Railway Procurement Agency chief executive Frank Allen said line BX had proven to be more complex than had initially been considered.

Among the issues were the building of a new public transport bridge across the Liffey and a traffic management plan for the construction period. But in relation to progress he said there had been "not as much as I would like".

But he said the changes to the route had demonstrated the level of engagement with Dublin Bus, city traders and the public in relation to route selection. It was evidence that public consultation on the metro and Luas routes could influence the outcome of those routes, and he recommended people study the Lucan routes and give opinions.

There were, he said two main emerging route options.

A northern route would begin at Lucan village and serve Liffey Valley, Ballyfermot, Tyrconnell, Inchicore, Kilmainham, James's Hospital, Meath Street, Christchurch and down Dame Street to Trinity College.

A southern route would begin at Newcastle Road and run via Castle Riada to Rowlagh, Wheatfield, Kylemore, Tyrconnell, Drimnagh, Rialto, the Coombe, and St Stephen's Green West.

Both route options would share some track with the existing Luas Red line while sub-options between the routes are also being considered.

The routes provide for possible interchanges with the Kildare train line, the proposed Metro West, the Luas red and green lines, Metro North and the proposed rail interconnector.

Both routes are approximately 15kms long, and the journey time would be about 42 minutes, giving a travel speed of 21.4 kilometres (13.3 miles) per hour.

The route would be expected to add 25 million to the 26 million passenger journeys on the existing two lines. It is to be open by 2013.