To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to develop a passenger service via the Phoenix Park between Heuston and Connolly stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Denis Naughten
Answered by the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan T.D.
The Dublin Transportation Offices strategy for transport in the Greater Dublin Area for 2000 to 2016 - A Platform for Change - is an integrated strategy comprising the upgrading of existing suburban services, the development of a light rail system (LUAS) as well as a metro system. The construction of an interconnector tunnel from Heuston Station via Pearse Station to the Docklands, which would link the Maynooth and Northern lines forms part of the proposals. Iarnród Éireann plan to commission shortly a more detailed study to develop this proposal.
The DTO advise that the Phoenix Park Tunnel is very limited in capacity and does not offer the development potential when compared to the proposed interconnector and the needs of Dublin in the period up to and beyond 2016. In the short term due to track capacity constraints in Connolly Station, it would not be possible to route additional services via the tunnel without restricting existing services.