This article or section contains information about a planned or expected public transportation infrastructure. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available.

Photomontage of proposed metro tunneling on O' Connell Street (looking north).

The Dublin Metro, sometimes called the Dublin Light Metro, is a planned metro (subway) system for the Irish city of Dublin. The plan was set out in the Irish Government's 2005 Transport 21 transport plan. The name 'Light Metro' came from the fact that light rail tracks and trains/trams may be used (like the existing LUAS) instead of the standard heavy rail found in metro systems in New York and London. The Light Metro plan was adopted because such systems are also in use in other European cities of similar size to Dublin (e.g. Porto, Portugal), and also because construction costs are expected to be lower with this option. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A taxi serving as a bus Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. ... Image File history File links Icon_train. ... Image File history File links Metro_o-connell. ... Image File history File links Metro_o-connell. ... A rapid transit, underground, subway, tube, elevated, or metro(politan) system is a railway system, usually in an urban area, with a high capacity and frequency of service, and grade separation from other traffic. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ... Luas (Irish for speed), also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, currently encompasses two unconnected on-street light rail lines in Dublin, Ireland. ... The term heavy rail is often used for regular railways, to distinguish from systems such as trams/light rail and metro. ... South Ferry station 125th Street station The New York City Subway is a large rapid transit system in New York City, New York, United States. ... The nickname the Tube comes from the circular tube-like tunnels through which the small-profile trains travel. ... This article is about the continent. ... The Porto Metro (Metro do Porto), part of the mass transit public transport system of Porto, Portugal, is a network of electrified railways that run underground in central Porto and above ground into the citys suburbs. ...

Diagram illustrating the planned path of Metro North, and interconnection with other transport nodes

So far, two lines have been planned, which will mainly serve the North and West of the city. One line is to go from St. Stephen's Green to the airport and on to Swords. The second line is to split off the first one just south of the airport, and from there pass through Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley, and Clondalkin before joining the Red Line of the LUAS to continue towards Tallaght. Some stations will be underground (mainly in the City Centre) while the rest will be either above ground or at ground level. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1422x806, 196 KB) Summary Diagram illustrating the planned Metro North route for Dublin City, and the interconnection that it will provide with various planned and existing transport infrastructure in Dublin City. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1422x806, 196 KB) Summary Diagram illustrating the planned Metro North route for Dublin City, and the interconnection that it will provide with various planned and existing transport infrastructure in Dublin City. ... North Dublin was a former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament 1885-1922. ... West Dublin is a vague geographic term that refers to Blanchardstown and possibly Lucan and Clondalkin. ... St. ... Swords (Sord Cholm Cille in Irish) is a suburb of Dublin City in the Republic of Ireland. ... Blanchardstown (Baile Bhlainséir in Irish) is a suburb of Dublin City, Ireland. ... Clondalkin (Cluain Dolcáin meaning Dolcans meadow in Irish) is a town/suburb and parish 10km west of Dublin City in the Republic of Ireland, situated in South County Dublin. ... Luas (Irish for speed), also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, currently encompasses two unconnected on-street light rail lines in Dublin, Ireland. ... // WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... City Centre is a Local Government ward in the City of Manchester. ...

The line will meet at stations with the LUAS and probably the DART. Luas (Irish for speed), also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, currently encompasses two unconnected on-street light rail lines in Dublin, Ireland. ... An 8200 Class DART unit, Iarnród Éireann 8203, at Grand Canal Dock station in 2001 Some DART trains feature these LED route describers - green indicates the route which has already been travelled, orange the route expected to be followed and flashing red the next station. ...

Proposed Timeline

• 2010 - Metro West Phase 1 (Tallaght to Clondalkin).
• 2011 - Metro West Phase 2 (Clondalkin to Lucan).
• 2012 - Metro North.
• 2012 - Metro West Phase 3 (Lucan to Blanchardstown).
• 2014 - Metro West Phase 4 (Blanchardstown to Ballymun).

For the film, see 2010: The Year We Make Contact. ... // WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Clondalkin (Cluain Dolcáin meaning Dolcans meadow in Irish) is a town/suburb and parish 10km west of Dublin City in the Republic of Ireland, situated in South County Dublin. ... 2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Clondalkin (Cluain Dolcáin meaning Dolcans meadow in Irish) is a town/suburb and parish 10km west of Dublin City in the Republic of Ireland, situated in South County Dublin. ... Lucan can refer to: Lucan, a town in County Dublin Lucan, a town in Minnesota, USA Lucan, a town in Ontario, Canada Earl of Lucan, a British peerage title Richard Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, the most famous holder Lucan, a Roman poet Lucan the Butler, a Knight of the... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lucan can refer to: Lucan, a town in County Dublin Lucan, a town in Minnesota, USA Lucan, a town in Ontario, Canada Earl of Lucan, a British peerage title Richard Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, the most famous holder Lucan, a Roman poet Lucan the Butler, a Knight of the... Blanchardstown (Baile Bhlainséir in Irish) is a suburb of Dublin City, Ireland. ... 2014 (MMXIV) will be a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Blanchardstown (Baile Bhlainséir in Irish) is a suburb of Dublin City, Ireland. ... Ballymun is an area on Dublins Northside close to Dublin Airport currently best known for the Ballymun flats, a development of 7 apartment towers and many smaller step-up blocks (i. ...

Need for a Metro

Cross-section photomontage of metro station view on O' Connell Street.

A high-capacity public-transport link to Dublin Airport has been identified as one of the most important gaps in the Dublin network, by the RPA. Dublin Airport is currently carrying 20 million passengers per year, a figure which according to some estimates may grow to 30 million by 2015, but the airport has no rail link to the city. Image File history File links Metro_o-connell_2. ... Image File history File links Metro_o-connell_2. ... Dublin Airport (IATA: DUB, ICAO: EIDW) is operated by Dublin Airport Authority plc and is the busiest airport in Ireland. ... Dublin Airport (IATA: DUB, ICAO: EIDW) is operated by Dublin Airport Authority plc and is the busiest airport in Ireland. ...

Metro was chosen as the preferred option for airport access over an alternative Iarnród Éireann-proposed solution based on a new airport spur from the existing DART line. Metro will be fully segregated from all traffic which will mean it will not disrupt traffic when in operation, unlike an on-street LUAS. The metro will also bring rail access to areas current lacking it, such as Ballymun, Dublin City University, and Swords. 1994: Iarnród Éireann Iarnród Éireann (IÉ; in English Irish Rail), is the national passenger railway system in Ireland. ... Dart may mean: Look up Dart in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A dart is a type of missile thrown or shot. ... Luas (Irish for speed), also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, currently encompasses two unconnected on-street light rail lines in Dublin, Ireland. ... Ballymun is an area on Dublins Northside close to Dublin Airport currently best known for the Ballymun flats, a development of 7 apartment towers and many smaller step-up blocks (i. ... Dublin City University (DCU) is a university situated in Glasnevin on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland. ... The word swords can refer to: Swords, Dublin swords (blades) Swords, a suit in the Tarot SWORDS, a ground-based military robot This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

The population of Greater Dublin, which was 1,661,185 at the time of the 2006 census, is expected to reach 2,000,000 by 2021. Map of the Greater Dublin Area Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a loosely defined term which is used to describe the city of Dublin and the counties of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Meath, South Dublin and Wicklow of the Republic of Ireland. ...

According to the Government's Railway Procurement Agency, Metro North has the potential to eliminate up to 41,000 car journeys per day from Dublin's congested roads and should be able to serve the Airport with a 17 minute journey to the city centre and Swords with a 26 minute journey. It is also expected to carry around 80,000 passengers a day, similar to current DART passenger numbers. Railway Procurement Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Fháil Iarnród) is a state board in the Republic of Ireland charged with the development of light railway and metro infrastructure. ... The word swords can refer to: Swords, Dublin swords (blades) Swords, a suit in the Tarot SWORDS, a ground-based military robot This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... An 8200 Class DART unit, Iarnród Éireann 8203, at Grand Canal Dock station in 2001 Some DART trains feature these LED route describers - green indicates the route which has already been travelled, orange the route expected to be followed and flashing red the next station. ...

The proposed metro system should provide room for expansion. Stations are supposedly to be built to accommodate longer carriages and more frequent trains in the future.

METRO North

Schematic map of proposed hybrid East/Central MetroNorth Route including omission of the Trinity/Tara stop, as well as integration with other services.

After a study of the Metro North project, the Railway Procurement Agency has selected a shortlist of three broad corridor options. There is a "West Route", a "Central Route" and an "East Route" with the Central route being preferred on grounds of cost and construction feasibility. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (656x800, 29 KB)[edit] Summary Proposed Metro North Route. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (656x800, 29 KB)[edit] Summary Proposed Metro North Route. ... Railway Procurement Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Fháil Iarnród) is a state board in the Republic of Ireland charged with the development of light railway and metro infrastructure. ...

Irrespective of the route chosen, the line will go underground at the city centre, terminating at St. Stephen's Green. Again irrespective of the route chosen, it is proposed to have a station in the vicinity of O'Connell Street. Daniel OConnell, 19th century nationalist leader, whose statue by John Henry Foley, stands on the street named after him. ...

Following a period of public consultation on the routing, the RPA will prepare more detailed engineering plans, including the exact location of stations, before seeking tenders for the line's construction.

The final METRO North route will be announced by Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, on 19 October 2006.[1] The government role of Minister for Transport is common to several countries: The British Secretary of State for Transport The Canadian Minister of Transport The Irish Minister for Transport This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Martin Cullen (born 2 November 1954) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Central Route (17km - 14 Stations)

The central route will emerge from the tunnel just south of Dublin City University. From there it will travel on an elevated structure through the centre of Ballymun and cross over the M50 motorway. The Central route will pass Dublin Airport somewhere near the Great Southern Hotel. There is a possibility to change this route to go underground at the Airport to a station at the short-term car park. From the airport, the route will continue to Swords on an elevated structure to finally terminate at ground level just north of Swords. Dublin City University (DCU) is a university situated in Glasnevin on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland. ... The M50 motorway is a motorway and National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland running in a C-shaped ring around the northern, western and southern sides of the capital city, Dublin. ...

Possible stations include: St. Stephen's Green, D'Olier Street, O'Connell Street, Mater Hospital, Botanic Rd., DCU, Ballymun (Centre), Ballymun (North), "Metropark" (P+R), Airport, Airside, Swords, Estuary, Lissenhall (P+R). a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ... a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ...

West Route (22km - 16 Stations)

The west route will emerge from the tunnel at Broadstone for a short distance at ground level. It will then climb to an elevated stretch over the Tolka Valley and run underground through Finglas. The route will climb to cross the M50, continue towards Dublin Airport at ground level and run underground at the Airport to a station at the short-term car park. From there, the route will continue to Swords on an elevated structure, finally terminating at ground level just north of Swords. See also: Broadstone, Dorset Map of Broadstone Broadstone is an area of the inner city on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. ... The River Tolka (Irish: Tulcha) is a river which flows through Dublin, Ireland. ... Finglas is a residential suburb on the North side of Dublin City, Ireland. ...

Possible stations include: St. Stephen's Green, Tara Street, Rotunda/O' Connell Street, Broadstone, Cabra Road, Liffey Junction, Tolka, Finglas, Finglas (North), M50 (Derry Road Junction) (P+R), "Metropark" (P+R), Airport, Airside, Swords, Estuary, Lissenhall (P+R). a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ... a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ... a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ...

East Route (17km - 13 Stations)

The east route will emerge from the tunnel at between Griffith Avenue and Collins Avenue near Whitehall. The route will then continue northwards on an elevated structure along the M1 motorway through Santry. It will cross over the M1 north of the M50 junction and will pass through the Airport on an elevated structure, with a station near the Great Southern Hotel. From the airport, the route will continue to Swords on an elevated structure to finally terminate at ground level just north of Swords. The N1 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, partly connecting Dublin and Belfast along the east of Ireland (mostly as the M1 motorway). ...

Possible stations include: St. Stephen's Green, Hawkins Street, O'Connell Street, Mater Hospital, Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue, Santry, Clonshaugh Road (P+R), Airport, Nevinstown, Swords, Estuary, Lissenhall (P+R). a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ... a park-and-ride bus in Oxford Park and ride terminals are public transport stations that allow commuters to drive short distances in their personal automobiles to catch a ride on a bus or railroad system (usually classified as light rail or the heavier commuter rail). ...

Possible Combined Route

In early June 2006 the RPA announced that as a result of initial feedback from the ongoing public consultation they were considering a further route option which would run from the city centre along the East Route as far as Drumcondra before going underground to join the Central Route, with an additional station at Griffith Avenue. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Railway Procurement Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Fháil Iarnród) is a state board in the Republic of Ireland charged with the development of light railway and metro infrastructure. ... Drumcondra (Irish: Droim Conrach) is a fashionable residential area on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. ...

Concerns Over Location of Airport Station

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has expressed its concern over the location of the Dublin Airport Station on the Metro North route ^[1]. According the the Chamber of Commerce, at this stage the RPA's favoured option is a station at the Great Southern Hotel which is 700 metres from the Airport Terminal. This option was devised on the basis that it would be almost equidistant between the current terminal and the site of the planned Terminal 2. The RPA propose a covered travelator linking the station to the terminals. The Chamber of Commerce do not support this proposal. They said, "unless the more costly underground option [of tunnelling under the terminal] is developed, the massive economic and social benefits the project promises to deliver to the country over the coming decades will be put at risk." The location of the Metro stop may also pose a problem for users of the system who wish to access the proposed Terminal 3 to the west, which is part of the overall future development of the Airport. Dublin Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest such organisations in Europe and traces its origins back to the Autumn of 1695 when the Dublin shipping company of Ferris, Twiggs and Cash sent their vessel Ouzel Galley on an important trading journey to the near-Eastern Seas. ...

The RPA does however allow for another combination of routes in the vicinity of the Airport. The "West Route" travels under the terminal in the proposals with the suggestion of a combination of the "West Route" and "Central Route" at the Airport, as illustrated in this Public Consultation Newsletter.

METRO West

The RPA is carrying out feasibility study for the proposed Metro West line. After this a shortlist of options will be identified and maps will be available. The route options will then be brought for consultation. Railway Procurement Agency (Irish: An Ghníomhaireacht um Fháil Iarnród) is a state board in the Republic of Ireland charged with the development of light railway and metro infrastructure. ...

Metro West is intended to link the areas of Tallaght, Clondalkin, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Ballymun. Metro West is planned to connect with the Luas Red line, the Kildare and Maynooth rail lines and Metro North.

Integration

According to the various operators in Dublin, all transport modes will integrate but there are fears that the systems may not integrate ideally. Even though station plans have not yet been fully detailed, draft plans seem to show that metro stations will not actually be built into existing stations, but rather be situated near existing stations. As nothing has yet been built, there is no immediate problem.

There also seems to be an unwillingness between transport operators to devise an integrated ticketing system ^[2]. The RPA is charged with implementing the "Integrated Ticketing System" in Dublin, but as of yet, not much progress has been made. To date, only LUAS has introduced a Smart Card (and also private operator Morton's). Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann plan to introduce separate Smart Cards in the near future. The challenge for the RPA will be to get all operators to integrate their ticketing services.

These issues need to be addressed if Transport 21 is to succeed and the Government's message of "integration is key" is to become a reality.

References

1. ^ RTÉ News (July 10, 2006), Warning on metro airport location
2. ^ The Sunday Times (February 19, 2006), Ticket plan stalled by transport feud

July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of metro systems
• Transport 21
• Rail transport in Ireland

This is an alphabetical list of cities worldwide that have a metro rail system . ... Most Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland, and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland. ...

External links

• Transport 21 @ Department of Transport
• Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) - Metro
• Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) - Metro Routes (PDF)
• Platform 11 (rail lobby group) - Dublin Metro
• Transport 21 coverage on RTÉ Television