Work starts on Docklands railway station

Work began today on the first city centre rail station in Dublin since Tara Street was built in 1890.

The new Docklands Rail Station, part of the Transport 21 plan, is expected to cost around €30 million and be open from next year.

The station will link the Spencer Dock with the Maynooth and Navan rail line as well as the Luas network through the planned extension of the Red Line.

Speaking at the turning of the sod today, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen said that the new station would allow more people get into the heart of the city.

"With Docklands integrating with Luas, it means we can connect commuters to the heart of the city centre, Connolly Station, Heuston Station and onwards to Tallaght and ultimately to Citywest," Mr Cullen said.

The station is expected to provide a peak rail service on the Maynooth commuter line every 15 minutes. It is estimated that it will remove over 2,500 cars a day from roads on opening, building to 10,000 a day.

It is also estimated that the station provide for 5,000 additional passengers a day on opening, growing to 20,000 passengers a day as services expand.