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Light Rail Project.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004

Tuesday, 7 December 2004

Questions (198, 199)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

223 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which extra passengers other than bus passengers have used the Luas since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32547/04]

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Written answers

The Railway Procurement Agency and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Luas on travel patterns. The "Before Luas" survey was carried out in the spring of 2004 and the "After Luas" survey will be carried out in 2005 by which time travel patterns should have become established after the introduction of the new service.

The RPA has also carried out less formal research on its customer base and has advised that the majority of Luas users are not transfers from other modes of public transport. Apart from car transfers, there also appears to be a significant number of new trips to the city centre for business and or recreation.

This view is shared by city centre businesses, which report substantial increase in business as a result of Luas.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

224 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his future plans for rail transport in the greater Dublin area; if it is intended to expand or extend the Luas, the DART or introduce a metro service; his plans in regard to either; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32548/04]

View answer

The Irish Rail proposals are being assessed by my Department at present, though, in the case of the DART, the capacity of the system is currently being increased.

In addition, the Railway Procurement Agency has submitted to the Department a detailed business case for a metro from the city centre to Dublin Airport and is advancing plans for extension of the Luas to the docklands and Cherrywood. The Department is awaiting business plans from the RPA to assist in its evaluation of both Luas extensions. The RPA has also considered a preliminary analysis of the feasibility and cost of linking both Luas lines in the city centre and a more detailed proposal is now being prepared for consideration by the RPA board before its submission to the Department.

Overall, these various proposals are being considered in the context of the developing needs of public transport in the greater Dublin area, the framework outlined on the Dublin Transportation Office "Platform for Change", the recently adopted regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, and the extended ten-year multi-annual capital investment envelope for transport announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement.

Question No. 225 answered with QuestionNo. 63.
Question No. 226 answered with QuestionNo. 214.
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