The way has been cleared for an underground light rail route for Dublin following the completion of geotechnical studies in the city centre, the Minister for Public Enterprise has announced. Ms O'Rourke said yesterday the geotechnical examination of possible underground routes for the expanded Luas system had been completed and construction of a city centre underground section had been given the green light by experts.
She said a landmark had been reached with the completion of the study into the underground routes from St Stephen's Green to Broadstone. E very soon. "However, I understand that the report confirms the technical feasibility of the underground section and identified a preferred technical route alignment costing about £300 million."
Addressing the annual dinner of the Chartered Institute of Transport in Dublin, the Minister welcomed the completion of the report confirming the feasibility of going underground.
"It is well over a century since London and Paris built tunnels for elements of their public transport services. Some critics of the project have placed Dublin on a bizarre geological pedestal - effectively the only city in the western world in which you could not build a tunnel. Well, I hope they now have their answer."
Ms O'Rourke will prepare a report on both the underground and public/private partnership aspects of Luas for the Government. The Government has already indicated it favours such a partnership approach. The completion of the report on time underlined how the expanded light rail project was being advanced without delay, she said.
Ms O'Rourke also said that a strategic rail study, commissioned by CIE at the request of the Government, was almost completed. This would help to define the future development of the suburban rail system.
The National Development Plan had set out a clear strategic framework for a radical improvement in public transport in Dublin and had allocated £1.6 billion for capital investment between now and 2006.