Vol. 572 No. 3
91 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has reviewed the possibility of joining the two Luas lines via the construction of an overground Luas line in the city centre; and if he will ask the RPA and the Dublin Transpor tation Office to model the likely patronage increase on both lines that would come from such a connection. [23144/03]
119 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the progress in regard to each of the three Luas lines; the original estimated cost in respect of each and the final anticipated cost; the original planned opening date for each and the expected operational date for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23111/03]
128 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the current rate of progress in regard to the construction of the Luas lines; if his attention has been drawn to claims that the project was on track and on schedule in mid-2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23114/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 119 and 128 together.
The Dublin Transportation Office's A Platform for Change, which is the blueprint for transportation needs in the greater Dublin area provides for a metro line from Dublin Airport to Shanganagh, which will incorporate the Luas line from Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green – Line B. It is in this broader context that integration with Luas lines from Tallaght to Connolly Station – Lines A-C – will be achieved in the city centre.
The first phase of the metro project as proposed by the Railway Procurement Agency would, subject to Government overall approval of metro, be a line from Dublin Airport to St. Stephen's Green. When this phase is built, passengers would be able to interchange from Luas line B to metro at St. Stephen's Green and from metro to Luas lines A-C in the O'Connell Street area. When Line B is incorporated into the metro system, passengers would be able to travel between any points on the Luas or metro networks with one interchange. I am considering all the options and will be bringing proposals to Government in the coming weeks for phase I of the metro.
Considerable progress has been made in the construction of Luas. I understand from the RPA that construction will be completed by May 2004 for the Tallaght to Connolly Station Line – Line A-C – and March 2004 for the Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green line – Line B. This compares with the original contractual dates of October 2003 for Line A and December 2003 for Line B. Following a period of testing and commissioning, passenger services will begin in August 2004 for the Tallaght to Connolly line and June 2004 for the Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green line.
