Metro North Route

[tomf]

Whilst there will be an interchange between the Metro and Dart 1 at St. Stephens Green and Metro and Dart 2 at Drumcondra I would firstly argue that the more opportunities there are for customer friendly ease of transfer at interchange points between the various rail options (and the other travel modes) the better. When the whole network is complete it is not 'essential' that these 2 stations are linked but the more choices people have the better. If its not made easy people won't do it.

Secondly, it looks likely that the government (and also opposition parties) have invested sufficient energy, enthusiasm and commitment into this project that it is unlikely to be reversed, with the metro section to the airport completed at a very minimum. However, despite its obvious and clear merits, the future of the interconnector is less certain and the minister has given little away in terms of guaranteeing its delivery. There is a planned minimum timelag of 3 years between completing the Metro and the electrification of the suburban lines and completion of the interconnector. The likelihood is that there will be an even greater timelag in its delivery and therefore no interchange between Metro and the existing Dart network (Malahide/Howth to Bray/Greystones) for a minimum of 5+ years.

A small investment, during Metro construction phase, constructing an underground foot passage between the 'landmark' underground city Metro station and the busiest Dart station on the network would make obvious sense and assist customers during the interm period and make ease of transfer easier. It would obviously be benificial in the longer term also. It could hardly be negative.

Short terms and simple solutions, similar to the temporary Docklands station (or the reopening of the Phoenix Park tunnel to passenger traffic!), make sense. If during the intervening period there are poor connections between Metro and Dart. That would be short sighted.