THE project to develop the Finglas northern extension of the Dublin Luas light rail network has secured approval from the Irish cabinet to proceed to the planning stage. A Railway Order for the project will be submitted to Ireland’s national planning body, An Bord Pleanála, by December.
The approximately 4km addition to the Green Line will primarily run in a segregated alignment and will extend the Luas network from Broombridge to the Finglas area of the city. Four new stops are proposed at St Helena’s, Finglas Village, St Margaret’s Road, and Charlestown near the M50 highway. Broombridge is on the planned Dart+ West extension of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) electrified commuter network.
The extension is expected to offer journey times of 30 minutes from Finglas to Dublin city centre and will serve planned housing developments in the area. A 350-space park and ride facility is planned near the St Margaret’s stop.
The project is one of four Luas extensions included in the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042. The extension could be operational by 2031, subject to planning and funding.
Galway
As part of updates to the Galway Transport Strategy, NTA has issued the results of a Light Rail Feasibility Study for the Galway Metropolitan Area.
The report is only intended to explore key issues and the technical feasibility of light rail in Galway, but has identified corridors with the greatest potential. Specifically, an east-west corridor through the city was found to have the strongest potential, with demand for around 7.5 million passengers by 2043. Further policies to support the Climate Action Plan could stimulate around 13 million public transport journeys, the study says.
The study adds that there may be potential to justify a light rail line sooner if a Compact Development or Transit Oriented Development approach is taken to promote land use development.
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