Sir, – Further to my letter pointing out the fact that the 1975 Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) plan had not been delivered more than 50 years later (Letters, July 16th), I have to agree with the main sentiments set out by Fintan O’Toole in his latest column. He states that “Dublin’s transport network is an everyday scandal” and refers to the objections on narrow cost grounds to the Dublin Rapid Transit Plan going back to the 1970s (“Dublin 4’s version of Marie Antoinette’s ‘let them eat cake’? Let them get the bus,” Opinion, August 4th).
However, I do wish to take issue with his characterisation of Garret FitzGerald as part of the “Dublin 4” objectors to proper rail-based public transport.
FitzGerald did write a number of columns in The Irish Times pointing out the capacity constraints of a surface-based tram system such as the Luas compared with an off-street rail system. He went into great detail regarding the inevitable conflicts at particular junctions between the proposed Luas and existing surface transport including buses.
I would argue, based on my experience of travelling on the Luas, that he has since been proven correct. The Luas vehicles have very limited carrying capacity and it takes about an hour to get from the city centre to Tallaght – which, as O’Toole points out, was to have been served by part of the original heavy rail, off-street, high-capacity Dart plan.
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As O’Toole also points out, Dublin is the third most congested city in Europe due to its reliance on surface-based transport options. Although the Luas is more reliable than the bus it is still subject to many of the same constraints as all other on-street vehicles.
I absolutely agree with his characterisation of those in the “Doheny and Nesbitt school of economics” who objected to even the modest Dart we now enjoy (phase one of the 1975 integrated plan) and continue to object to all similar projects to this day.
However, I think he should reconsider his inclusion of FitzGerald and his legitimate concerns over the capacity of the Luas tram system within those ranks. – Yours, etc,
Adrian P Conway,
Chartered engineer,
Co Meath.
Sir, – Well done to Fintan O’Toole for his article regarding the MetroLink. His question – Does anyone think the MetroLink is going to get cheaper if we don’t do it now? – is noteworthy.
As the skills and talents required to get a project fully consented are largely different from those required at construction stage, I would like the team that brought the current project to a successful consent stage could to be instructed to plan for the next stages so that we eventually have a proper citywide network.
This pipeline of continuous work would ensure Ireland was capable of attracting the talents required to implement the network we deserve. – Yours, etc,
David Williams,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.
