THERE was a somewhat mixed response on the Southside to the ambitious €3bn Dublin MetroLink plan that was unveiled by the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland last week.
The preferred route of this major infrastructure project envisages the development of a north-south urban railway service that will run for 26km between Swords and Sandyford, connecting key destinations including Dublin Airport and the City Centre.
The proposed transport service – which replaces the long-awaited Metro North – will start above ground north of Swords and will run on an elevated line through Swords to Fosterstown, where it will run into a new tunnel to Dublin Airport.
The line will then continue underground to Ballymun, and Glasnevin, connecting with mainline rail at a new station to the west of Cross Guns Bridge, and on to the city centre, serving the Mater Hospital, O’Connell Street and Tara Street station.
After the service crosses the Liffey, commuters will be served by stops at St Stephen's Green, Charlemont, Ranelagh, Beechwood, Cowper, Milltown, Windy Arbour, Dundrum, Balally, Kilmacud, Stillorgan, and Sandyford.
This underground section will then terminate at the Charlemont Luas stop – just before Ranelagh – where it will emerge overground and run along the Luas Green Line.
Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond said the new transport links opened up by MetroLink will benefit local businesses and commuters alike across the Southside.
“The announcement of the exact preferred route of MetroLink today is another step forward for this much anticipated infrastructure project for us commuters living south of the Liffey,” he said.
“We should be able to reach the airport from Sandyford in just over 40 minutes, making life so much easier for those going on holidays but also for quick stop business meetings.
“It will provide faster reliable journey times to and from these key destinations while offering interchange with other rail, DART, light rail and bus services.
“I am particularly happy to see stops in Milltown, Windy Arbour, Dundrum, Balally, Kilmacud, Stillorgan and Sandyford.”
Senator Richmond added: “I am delighted that Dublin Rathdown will benefit from this infrastructural investment of €3 billion, which will help strengthen our community into the future.”
However, from examination of the plans it appears that more than 100 properties, including gardens and houses near Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh, and an apartment block at College Gate complex next to Tara Street station, may have to be acquired and demolished to facilitate the new rail
line that is due to open in 2027.
Aidan Foley of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said there were about 100 properties over the entire length which are potentially affected.
“It would be our policy to try and engage with all of the affected properly owners at the earliest possible point to make sure we try to mitigate where we can and reach fair and equitable arrangements with them in relation to their properties,” he said.
All potentially affected property owners were contacted by TII in recent days, Mr Foley added.
Some Southside councillors in the areas potentially affected by the route expressed their disquiet at the plans.
Cllr Mary Freehill (Lab) said that while she was only properly examining the plans in detail after Thursday’s announcement, she was baffled at the general outline.
“This a north south route that obviously doesn’t address the issues of the lack of an east-west corridor,” she said.
“It is this problem that is leading to the rat-running and traffic gridlock on the streets through these residential areas that we are seeing at the moment. That will not be addressed by this new plan.”
Cllr Paddy Smyth (FG) aho also represents the Rathgar-Rathmines area, said that the plan left “an inexplicable wedge” of the Southside without access to the new line.
“While it will obviously benefit locals and commuters living along the line it would leave those living further afield in Rathfarnham, Harold’s Cross and Terenure without any direct access to the line,” he said.
“This is a failing of looking at the bigger picture on behalf on the NTA.”
Southsiders can raise any concerns or have their views heard during a public consultation meeting that will be held in The Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown on Wednesday, April 18..