On 9 March 2006, I announced the commencement of construction of the new docklands rail station. The station will be constructed at a location north of Sheriff Street, adjacent to the east side of the Royal Canal. The station, when operational at end 2007, will cater for additional commuter services on the Maynooth line and, critically, will cater for all services on the proposed Dunboyne spur, due for completion in 2009. The station will be conveniently accessed from the stop at Spencer Dock on the proposed Luas line extension from Connolly Station. The distance from the new station to the nearest stop on the proposed Luas extension, Spencer Dock, is approximately 350 metres. The final stop on the proposed new Luas line will be at the Point Depot, which will be approximately 850 metres from the new Iarnród Éireann station.
The Railway Procurement Agency has submitted a railway order application for this Luas extension and I have appointed an inspector to conduct a public inquiry into that application. Given that a major focus of Transport 21 is the integration of services of various modes, I understand that Iarnrod Eireann and the RPS are in discussion to ensure optimum integration between Luas and commuter rail services.