This is another article in the recent trend of local politicos eager for votes to take advantage of any possible angle, last week we had someone complaining about IE prosecuting people not obeying Level Crossing instructions. Six months ago these politicians where complaining about there being a lack of trains. They have well known for over a year that there would be serious increase in Maynooth line services in 2007
Westmanstown LC isn't a issue since its beyond Clonsilla and there are no extra trains beyond Clonsilla so there won't be any difference.
The Clonsilla issue is totally the local councils problem for years a replacement bridge has been talked about which would close the level crossing, the hold up is the local council not sorting out the local traffic arrangements to divert traffic flows, its got nothing to do with Irish Rail.
Porterstown Rd is probably the worst case but option to go via the new bridge
Coolmine won't be any worse than now if the trains are timed to pass at the station, option to go via the new bridge or go via Castleknock Rd which has a bridge over the railway
Ashtown station isn't really that bad
The level crossing between Ashtown and Broombridge is again on the list for a bridge, again local councils problem, land set aside for it, the aerial shot is very very telling about the plans
2500 extra passengers say 1250 cars allowing for a small amount of multiple occupancy bus transfers and new users, allowing 5m for each car and clearance front/rear (most popular car is a Ford Focus is 4.3m long). Parked end to end thats 6.2km long no one is going to tell me that won't make a serious difference
If you want to see level crossings with traffic Merrion Gates sees 16 trains an hour, in comparison Maynooth line it will be 18 in two hours. In fact more cars crossed Merrion Gates after the DART was introduced than before thanks to better traffic management
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