Luas on target despite economy troubles

Dublin's Luas lines from Sandyford and Tallaght will not be affected by the slowdown in the economy, the Minister of State, Mr Seamus Brennan, said yesterday.

Speaking after he turned a sod on the site of the Sandyford Luas depot, Mr Brennan said contracts had been signed for both lines and work was well advanced on the routes.

The Sandyford route will cost just under £200 milion and the money had been set aside for it.

There will be will 11 stops between Sandyford and St Stephen's Green and the journey will take just 22 minutes, the Minister said.

Both lines would be operational in 24 months' time, he added.

The depot is being built by Ansaldo MVM BNI Joint Venture, which will also construct the track for Line A - Tallaght to Connolly Station - and Line B - Sandyford to St Stephen's Green.

The overall site area is in the region of 23,000 square metres, and the depot will be a stand-alone maintenance centre for the 14 40-metre trams which will serve the route.

It will contain a wash plant, sanding plant, wheel-turning lathe and a workshop as well as a small control centre for the trams servicing this line.

Park-and-ride facilities for 90 cars will be available with additional spaces at the nearby Stillorgan stop.

The tram terminus will be accessible to pedestrians from Brewery Road by means of a footpath along the reservoirs.

Construction of the depot will begin shortly and is scheduled to be completed in 12 months.

When the Sandyford line is completed, the journey time from Stephen's Green to Sandyford will be 22 minutes, the Light Rail Project office claimed.

Dublin's Light Rail Project office also announced yesterday that it has agreed to extend the Sandyford Luas line to Cherrywood in south Co Dublin.

A public consultation process has already taken place and the Light Rail Project will now call a public inquiry which is expected to be held before the end of the year. Work on the route is expected to begin in 2002/03.

The line will differ from the old Harcourt Railway line which served Leopardstown and Foxrock on the route to Carrickmines. The Luas line will travel from Sandyford to the new Central Park office development, on to Ballyogan road, Carrickmines and across open country to Cherrywood.

It is to be the first element of the Luas line to be developmed as part of a public/private partnership (PPP).

The State's partner in the venture is to be Rathdown Light Rail Ltd, whose chief executive officer is listed as Mr Willie Murray, described as an entrepeneur.

The project is expected to be completed by 2005.