Dart underground plan lodged

The formal application for the Dart underground rail project was lodged with An Bord Pleanála this afternoon.

If approved, the Dart underground, which is estimated to cost at least €2.5 billion, will deliver a high-capacity rail line through the city centre.

The €2.5 billion project will involve the construction and operation of some 8.6 km of new rail, 7.6 km of which will be in twin-bore tunnels. The Dublin Chamber Of Commerce has welcomed the move, which it says will provide a a 2.5 to 1 return on the investment.

The tunnels will connect the northern and Kildare rail lines with underground stations located at Spencer Dock, Pearse, Station, St Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston Station, as well as a surface Dart station at Inchicore.

Frequency and capacity on the Dart Northern, Maynooth and Kildare lines will be increased while the Dart would be extended to Maynooth, Hazelhatch/Celbridge and the Northern line, with Pearse Station acting as a central hub connecting all lines.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has called on the Government to financially commit itself to the project’s completion.

“Dart Underground is a long-term investment that will pay divides to residents, commuters and tourists each and every day,” said Gina Quin, Dublin Chamber chief executive.

“Government saw the merits of investing in the Dart during the tough economic times of the 1980s. Similar foresight is required of Government today”, she said.

“For each euro spent this project will return €2.50, which is very high by international standards for a public transport project,” said Ms Quin.

In addition to improving service for Dublin commuters, the DART Underground tunnel will link up the North-South and East-West rail routes which are at capacity at Heuston and Connelly stations.

It is estimated that as many as 7,000 people will be employed each year during its proposed construction.

Iarnród Éireann said the system will be up and running by 2018.

The Government says the network will treble the numbers travelling on the Greater Dublin rail system to over 100 million passengers journeys annually.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has refused to disclose how much funding the Government would have to contribute to the public-private partnership scheme.

Mr Dempsey said the application was "an important stepping stone" towards and improved system of public transport in Ireland. "The submission of the Railway Order for the Dart Underground brings closer the vision of a mass transit system outlined in Transport 21, and in tandem with Metro North will transform public transportation in the Greater Dublin Area," he said.

A Railway Order is the equivalent of a planning permission for new rail schemes and, if granted, will authorise CIÉ to begin the project.

The Government will apply to the European Investment Bank - which recently pledged €500 million towards the Metro North project – for some of the financing.

Potential private backers have until July 20th to express an interest. Investors would take a share in profits under the plans.

“There has already been significant interest,” Mr Dempsey’s spokesman said.

An Environmental Impact Statement will be on display to the public from 7th July until 18th August at the offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1;  Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8;· Heuston Station, Dublin 8; Pearse Station, Dublin 2 and· CIÉ Inchicore Works (Inchicore Parade Entrance), Dublin 8.