Question

[Jimbo]

Mark,

This comment is written in the platform 11's successes -

The first related to the Phoenix Park tunnel, and perhaps I did not explain myself well. We certainly intend to use the Phoenix Park tunnel in the short term to bring trains from the Kildare-Newbridge area into Spencer Dock because there is a demand for that. - Joe Meagher Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive February 25th 2005

What's the latest on this? Is it going to happen?

[Mark Gleeson]

The only reason that all came about was because of this

In the weeks following a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas committee on transport by Platform 11 the Joint Committee travelled through the tunnel on a standard suburban railcar type train and following this at a later Joint Oireachtas committee sitting Iarnród Éireann finally conceded that the tunnel could be used and following the construction of a new station in Spencer Dock services will commence between Kildare and Spencer Dock.

Due to us and no one else the Joint Committee where brought out on a 2700 railcar and taken from Connolly to Heuston, that was a powerful victory and a vindication

Irish Rail conceeded it was doable, which was a total reversal of their position, they had to admit it was possible. It pissed them off no end

While IE have back tracked on it there is a study underway which will force the issue

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the reply, I was just wondering. The worst thing about the Kildare journey is getting to and from Heuston. Now with Spencer Dock open it seems blantantly obvious to run the train up there as most people go that way on the luas or the bus anyway

[Mark Gleeson]

Well its actually impossible current

[gm101]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Thanks for the reply, I was just wondering. The worst thing about the Kildare journey is getting to and from Heuston. Now with Spencer Dock open it seems blantantly obvious to run the train up there as most people go that way on the luas or the bus anyway

theres no line that runs from heuston to the docklands station

[sean]

Yeah, after IE's head honcho said they were going to run trains from Kildare to the Docks, they went ahead and built the station wrong ... only in Ireland.

[James Shields]

Originally Posted by gm101

theres no line that runs from heuston to the docklands station

At least not until the Luas point extension opens in another year or so! :-)

RUI and P11 before it have been looking for what Jimbo suggests since day one. Running trains from the bay platforms would be tricky, but having every second Kildare train turn left before the main Heuston station and stop at platform 10, before going through the Pheonix Park tunnel to Docklands. It would require some track changes to make it possible, things aren't connected up as they should be at the moment.

[riverwood]

Im a little confused.
Doesnt the line from Heuston not join the Sligo line just before the Midland line to Docklands ?