Measures to wipe out Dublin's public transport deficit envisaged

CIE, which owns the Spencer Dock site and is involved in the consortium planning to develop it, told An Bord Pleanala's inquiry into the project yesterday that its massive investment programme would wipe out Dublin's public transport deficit.

In a document submitted to the inquiry by Mr John Henry, director of the Dublin Transportation Office, E's chief executive, Mr Michael McDonnell, CIE's chief executive, said this was contingent on the group generating sufficient resources internally to match Exchequer and EU funds.

The measures outlined by Mr McDonnell include the following:

Dublin Bus fleet to be expanded from 984 buses in 1999 to 1,350 in 2005, catering for an extensive network of new bus routes identified in a strategic review by a firm of transport consultants.

With additional buses, bus-priority measures, faster speeds and integrated ticketing, morning peak-time capacity is to increase by 60 per cent from 120,000 in 1999 to 190,000 in 2004.

Major bus terminus and transportation interchange planned for CIE-owned site at rear of Connolly Station, offering integration between buses, suburban and mainline rail, DART and Luas.

Specially branded Docklands bus service to be introduced between Heuston Station and the Docklands area, using high-capacity articulated buses running at 10-minute intervals.

Bus routes from Lucan, Tallaght and Blanchardstown as well as the Stationlink service between Heuston and Connolly to be extended to Docklands, using the planned Macken Street bridge.

A new Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) to serve Docklands, linking the International Financial Services Centre, Spencer Dock and East Point Business Park with Clontarf Road DART station.

By December 2004, the total DART fleet will have risen from 80 vehicles to 152, an increase of over 90 per cent, following the phased introduction of new rolling stock.

Barrow Street station will be open by July, a new DART concourse at Connolly Station by August and the long-delayed DART electrified service to Malahide and Greystones "in 2000".

In addition to 27 new Arrow railcars for other suburban lines introduced in 1999, a further 20 are promised before the end of this year and 58 more by December 2004.

Phase two of the Heuston Station redevelopment, increasing the number of platforms from five to nine, to be completed by 2003, along with a new multi-storey car park and hotel.

Work under way to upgrade the freight-only line through the Phoenix Park tunnel for passenger services to be completed by 2003, allowing Kildare line trains to run through to Connolly.

Along with a twin-track on the Maynooth line, to be completed by the end of next year, peak-hour capacity on outer suburban lines is to rise by 180 per cent to 15,500 by the end of 2004.

Spencer Dock rail station scheduled for completion by the end of 2003, with services from the Maynooth line running into the new station every 15 minutes, also by the end of 2004.

A rail link to Dublin Airport utilising the Sligo line and following a route reserved by both Dublin Corporation and Fingal County Council, with Spencer Dock as the city terminus.

Luas line from Tallaght to Connolly Station to be operational by early 2003, with its extension to the Docklands area a priority, and the Sandyford Luas line opening in summer 2003.