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Fingal

From:	JPK
Posted:	9 November 2006

Integrated Rail Network for Dublin North, Meath and Louth.

Integrated Rail Network for Dublin North, Meath and Louth.

With the announcement of the Metro to Swords, there has been a push to have the Metro extended to Donabate.
It?s only 3 kilometers away and seems like a logical place to connect the Northern Suburban rail System with the Metro North System.

This was not done. However, and I think I know the reason why.
If the Metro were extended to Donabate, it would be impossible to control the numbers getting on at Donabate. With the thousands who regularly commute to Dublin taking the option of disembarking at Donabate to board the Metro at rush hour times in the morning, it?s conceivable that the Metro leaving Donabate would be full.

It would possibly remain full or nearly full for the first 4 stops at Lissenhall, Seatown, Nevinstown and Dublin Airport.

What would this mean for the Swords commuters?

There is a way however to control the numbers reaching the Metro from the Northern Rail Line.

If a branch line of the Northern Line were to be made from Donabate to Lissenhall (Metro terminus) then it would be possible to control the numbers arriving at the Metro because the Lissenhall stop would be the last stop.

Other advantages are:
Metro to Donabate means building a new station at Donabate with Stairs, ramps, tunnels, elevators, etc etc for mass passenger exchange from one train platform to the Metro Platforms.
Branch Line to Lissenhall means no new station need be built. Just a simple switch track south of Donabate and a line to Lissenhall.. The station at Lissenhall is already being built anyway so only a platform need be built.

Metro to Donabate means an increase in the number of trains from Dundalk/Drogheda will be required and the impact further south on the DART system would be huge particularly around the Connolly Station/Docklands area.
A Branch line to Lissenhall means that you can run a ?Metro Shuttle? service, 5 minutes behind every train that runs to Connolly. This "shuttle" would only run between Dundalk/Drogheda and Lissenhall. This means you could double the service for all stations from Dundalk/Drogheda to Donabate. Half of the trains would then proceed to Connolly/Dockland, the other half would serve Lissenhall. No need to worry about the impact on the DART lines further south of Malahide.
Where do the Lissenhall Trains go? Why back up the Northern Line serving all station again to Drogheda/Dundalk.

Here is the best part in my opinion.
Who would run the ?Metro Shuttle??
The same people who run the Metro. They can control the numbers arriving at Lissenhall.
They can control the number of carriages, the frequency of the trains and even the price.
If a premium is required for peak-times then that will ensure that passengers only needing to get to points along the Metro will board the Metro.
A lesser fruequecy at rush hour times will ensure that Swords passengers can board too.
A lesser number of carraiges will reduce the numbers arriving at Lissenhall at peak times.
If you just want to get to the city center then you stay on the normal suburban rail for Connolly/Dockland.

It also introduces competition on the route between Donabate and Drogheda/Dundalk... It will turn the Northern Line section between Donabate and Drogeda into a real hive of activity. Easy access to Drogheda for shopping instead of always going south to Dublin. Increase numbers of trains along this section will increase employment opportunities between the towns on the line and economic opportunities too. Easy access to Swords, a notorios parking blackspot, for passangers in Skerries, Lusk, Rush, Balbriggan etc.

I would be interested to hear the opinions of those living along the routes discussed here and also from transport experts if there are any on the site.
I really like the idea because of the freedom of choice it allows passangers all the way along the Northern Line.

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