***********!!!!500 BILLION METRO WASTE!!!! *************
SCROLL DOWN PAGE TO READ MORE...
**** 500 BILLION METRO WASTE ****
"The Metro was hailed as one of the greats things to happen Dublin for the benefit of Ireland, now it will turn out
to be the greatest disaster ever for Ireland with waste of up to four hundred billion euros that a small country like Ireland
could not handle taking several years to recover. If we continue with this waste the country may never recover.WHY??? READ
ON AND SEE...
I first heard of the Metro idea in 1996 when three wealthy business men informed me at our transport meeting in Wynn's
Hotel. All bodies agreed the population of Dublin would need to double to justify its feasibility and as Luas was already
at the planning stage a metro was not necessary. At the end of another public meeting promoting Luas in 1999 the presenter
announced there was better system then Luas called Metro. I challenged the Metro idea at that meeting and ever since. By doubling
the population it would cause many more problems in all areas, it would put massive pressure on scarce land resources driving
up costs and benefit only the builders and speculators.
Then in early 2005 I was informed by a very respectable journalist that the Government was coming under massive pressure
from big builders, developers and speculators to put a transport plan in statute and in November 2005 Transport 21 was announced
with great fan fare of 34.4 billion euros to the delight of all but particularly by the big builders and business etc..
In 2006 in discussion with the Luas people about extending the Luas from city west to Adamstown rail station I discovered
there was no money in Transport 21 and the only way I could have the line extended if some wealthy business men would fund
it, and it's the same for all Luas lines. My biggest fears came through in 2007 when it became public there were no funds
in the kitty even though they kept telling us the country was awash with money.
I now realised that Metro was a great alleged scam to tip off their friends and vested interest. These people on the strength
of this information bought up all the available lands and even bid against each other in doing so. They borrowed at will and
the banks handed out money as if there was no tomorrow as I found out later. One individual borrowed one thousand million
euros.
Now with these developers in full control they started another alleged scam by pushing up property prices, first the used
gazumping with false bidders, then by just putting a few houses on the market for a week and the next week a few more with
a price hike of five to ten thousand and so on. Finally the biggest trick of all was used to push up prices, the builders
held on to most of the houses and sold very few interfering with the market, creating a shortage, pushing up cost even higher
while the government stood idly by. Now because of this and the high prices many young people were forced to the countryside
to get a home with long commuting adding to their cost. Child care was also doubled about this time again hitting these people
as their extended family was not there to help out. There was another problem, this greatly undermined their disposable income,
the knock on effect would in time hit the economy.
In December 2008 we finally got the truth when the banks disclosed under pressure that they had over 450 billion lent
to the builders. By their (builders etc.) underhanded tactics, house prices were pushed up an extra one hundred thousand euros
and when this 100,000 is paid back by home owners over the next thirty years the cost of the Metro will be close to 500 hundred
billion euros including the 450 billion owed to banks.
By building Metro North under the radial system will cost almost an extra 100 million euros per year in efficiency lost
to the transport network, including the following costs, levies, mental difficulties, society problems, pushing up property
prices, drawing more to Dublin adding to commuting cost. This massive waste will undermine many thousands of jobs with damaging
effects through out the country. So what will it achieve? Well I'LL TELL YOU...More money paid out from Social Welfare for
the unemployed...Less tax revenue because of fewer people in work and those that have jobs will see their wages savagely cut...Less
revenue because of less spending by consumers...And MORE qualifying for the medical card. Is this Government FOR REAL???
These people that got it so wrong are still promoting the Metro just to save face as they won't admit they were wrong.There
is one major flaw in our public transport system, it's the radial system all via the centre, it wont go away by ignoring it.The
Metro scandal has turned out to be one of the main causes of the present difficulties, it was designed to push up properties
prices and if this very costly Metro is built it will undermine any rail extension for the rest of Ireland on cost grounds
alone. The main damage it has done, it has undermined many families, putting thousands into big debt and putting many thousands
out of work and the psychological damage it has done to many thousands more. After all this Metro was promoted as the greatest
thing ever to come to Ireland and if it's not stopped it could push the economy over the edge that it may never recover from.
Stop digging before it's to late."
Tom Newton has spent over forty years studding and working in transport and his experience should not be ignored. All
we get from the experts is report after report, no solution leaving the problems as bad as ever generally in most cases favouring
the money merchants
The Luas city orbital is gathering great momentum and is being received very favourably with those who have seen it. It is
a very simple solution to the Dublin's transport problems. It takes users within walking distance of all areas in the city.
The fact that it goes in both directions makes it very efficient, a great way to get around the city in a fast effective way.
It has the potential of a two minute frequency in both directions. It has a three fold benefit eliminating the need for a
costly inter-connector rail line between Heuston and the Dockland Station. It eliminates the need for a costly underground
Metro through the city to St. Stephens Green and most importantly, it will revolutionise the bus corridor network by trebling
bus efficiency. It has many more advantages; it links up all transport systems including all bus routes, Dart lines, mainline
rail and provincial buses that enter the city. It has the potential to cater for up to ten additional Luas lines from the
outskirts that will be built in the years ahead. It has the capacity to disperse large volumes of commuters around the city
better than all the other forms of transport put together. It will take most users direct to their place of work, leisure
or shopping. It avoids unnecessary digging up the streets, with the congestion and loss of business this would cause. It
will greatly benefit business, tourism and country visitors. It's the solution to make Dublin a great capital, a safer city
where everybody will enjoy visiting. The most important benefit is the low cost factor as it will save the state several billion
Euros and all it needs is just over three miles of on street rail to complete the orbital. It's the ideal solution.
The trams will operate clock wise with number one (1) and anti clockwise with number two (2). Example Tallaght tram 1
will show number one on destination and will go around the orbital clockwise. Tallaght tram two will show number two on destination
and go around the orbital anti-clockwise. This destination routine will apply to all trams from any area including the city
trams just circling the orbital as city one (1) and city two (2) as above.
Euro 10 Billion Transport Waste.
The Dublin Metro Transport Plan may overspend by almost ten billion Euros and still not solve the traffic problems if
steps are not taken to address the flaws. As presently proposed it is no solution as it contains the flaws of the past; for
every one person it carries, it draws in an extra one nullifying the benefit (nullification) and when completed, congestion
will be as bad as ever after wasting so much money and time.
The problems:
The Plan fails to tackle the main flaw in public transport, the radial system - all via the centre. It ensures most developments,
business and tourism for the Dublin area. It totally ignores land use - the main ingredient in any transport solution. It
drives up property prices forcing thousands to the countryside with up to ten fold commuting distance. Different rail gauge
prevents full integration greatly reducing its efficiency. It draws more people to the capital, mainly to the city centre
creating sardine loading, a very unhealthy development. Forcing city rail away from its natural environment to Stephens Green,
an area with no potential to develop, adds enormous cost to the project. It undermines existing rail as a solution and
doesn't adhere to the ten planning guidelines. It does not fully service airport users. Its routing will be of little
benefit in the event of an oil shortage. Providing the majority of funding for Dublin prevents the rest of the country from
getting a fair transport system. It benefits mainly business and property owners and encourages isolated planning, the scourge
of society. The Dublin Metro Plan keeps most of future funding in the Dublin area for building many more Luas and Metro lines
that will be needed to make up for the present mistakes. The real cost of getting it wrong could be several billions more
when everything is taken into account - long distant commuting, inefficiency of the radial system, higher population and higher
fuel costs etc.. All this undermines the economy.
The solution is simple with the Circle Transport Plan which maximises existing rail by building the short missing link
of one kilometer from Connolly rail station to the Dockland station and by linking the Kildare line to the Sligo line from
Adamstown,Lucan to Leixlip, just three miles. This completes the rail circle for Dublin surprisingly omitted by the planners.
Amalgamating the two Metro lines using standard rail gauge would maximise land use. This addresses the radial problem and
services the Industrial Corridor on the outskirts for more jobs etc.
If we link up the two Luas lines from Connolly across the new Macken ST. Bridge via Baggot St. Corridors with quay contra
flow and cross city bus way for effective bus operations, this would complete a fast cost effective transport solution for
now and many decades to come addressing the main flaws already mentioned above. By servicing the industrial corridor on the
outskirts we create the potential for many thousands of jobs benefiting locals, long distant commuters (now the forgotten
people), giving balance and reducing overloading the city centre that is needed for future tourist growth.
With underground so expensive tunnels should be multi-purpose, and rail gauge should be standard to cater for goods as
well as passengers to maximize efficiency when oil becomes expensive. To achieve this the Luas line already going to the Point
should use the Port Tunnel. This tunnel should be extended over the Bay linking up to the M50 on the south side completing
the circle as an orbital route. This would make the tunnel multi-purpose and would have other advantages. If the Pool Beg
incinerator goes ahead this will be more important. Tolling will be the main
provider of funding. We are in the age of waste and
overspending should be avoided at all cost, as funding is required in many other areas.Many towns in Ireland already have
congestion problems that need urgent attention. Public transport is the main solution to the present traffic congestion not
necessarily by the numbers it carries but by how it is routed to disperse activities including living, work, schooling, shopping
and leisure more evenly throughout the whole area.
If we get this transport plan wrong after wasting massive funds and time it will take many decades to rectify putting
a solution back even further. It is very important to check it out as the records show the planners have made many mistakes
in the past. We must keep to the ten planning guidelines, avoid the sales technique and stop using consultation as a bribe.
It is wrong to fool the people with the premise that no matter how bad a plan is, if it is the only one then it is the best.
Nobody has a monopoly on ideas, together we can make it a success not just for ourselves but for future generations.
Email: circletransport@gmail.com ; Tom Newton 086 3127364
Development Officer National Transport Users Association.
Rail-Interconnector ---is it really necessary?
The rail Inter-connector is a proposed underground rail line linking Heuston to Dockland Station via St. Stephens Green.
Dublin is a small low density sprawled city with a radial transport system, any solution must reflect this. It has an
abundance of existing rail both used and unused that just needs to be linked up. By introducing on street rail, it will make
it easier to finally get a solution to Dublin's transport problems. Now with the new idea of an orbital Luas in the city centre
makes a solution very simple. It is easy to get into Dublin but difficult to get around it and the proposed orbital Luas will
address this. The existing main line rail problems can just as easy be solved by building a short rail link from the back
of Connolly station to the Dockland station less than half a mile (the missing rail link) This allows continuous train movements
through the city avoiding train lock that happens at Connolly Station at the moment when extra trains come in. By reusing
the rail tunnel through the Phoenix Park makes all this possible. By linking the Kildare rail line to Sligo line from Adamstown
to Leixlip (just three miles) completes the mainline rail network for Dublin forming the figure of eight for the most effective
and efficient way to maximise the city's rail to its full potential.
With the abundance of rail, Luas and bus there is no need for the Inter-connector as rail connections from the outskirts
of Dublin to the centre will have many more Luas lines in the future. The fact that Dublin is a low density city also militates
against the Inter-connector.
Trying to turn Dublin into a high density city to justify costly undergrounds etc. will cause major problems in all other
areas for water, sewage, waste, schools, hospitals etc. to just name a few and also the fact that so many city born people
now live in the countryside commuting long distance. Land use for the city is mainly on the outskirts and this has to be taken
into account when considering the Inter-connector. The planners are now building a self contained city near work, leisure
and shopping reducing transport needs. The fact that this Inter-connector can only take Dart trains forces country users to
change at Heuston to board this Dart train that will have few stops of importance and misses the city centre turning the idea
into a joke. The Luas City Orbital will finally condemn the Inter - connector to a white elephant, this Luas orbital has great
support from all that has seen it so far and you can see more about it on the website www.dublinbus.org. The cost of the Inter-connector
is in access of two billion Euros, massive waste through duplication when funding is needed in so many other areas and when
so many jobs are hanging by a thread.
METRO WASTE
The Metro transport system was hailed as one of the greatest assets for Dublin but it could turn out to be the most expensive
of all for the country and the economy. Business, developers and speculators borrowed heavily on its strength to the tune
of nearly sixty seven billion Euros’; recently announced by the banks. It was one of the main causes why house prices
went one hundred thousand Euros above their real value. By the time the extra costs on these mortgages are paid for, the borrowing
by the developers to be repaid, the real cost of Metro could be near one hundred billion Euros.
The knock on effect from this forced many thousands of young people to the countryside to get an affordable home. This
has resulted in higher stress levels, major commuting and child care cost, reducing their efficiency due to tiredness etc.
and reducing their spending power with most of their disposable income already eaten up due to their new circumstances. This
country living has caused another major problem as these young families are away from their extended family that could be
of assistance to help out in time of difficulty. If one of the partners is unfortunate in the present climate to be made redundant
it puts extreme pressure on the family and home.
In spite of this the planners are still insisting on going ahead with the very costly Metro system underground through
the city to St. Stephens Green with a duplicated Luas rail line directly above on street linking the same areas. They are
also insisting on a an Inter-connector rail underground between Heuston and Docklands station that cannot take country trains
when there is already an underground through the Park tunnel serving the same areas. This route from Heuston to Connolly is
already linked by Luas. This duplication will add billions of Euros to the project. We can’t afford waste like this
when jobs are at risk and funding is needed in so many other areas.
Luas as orbital route in the city centre area is the answer requiring a few extra miles of on street rail with no major
street disruptions, integrating with contra-flow bus way and existing Dart/rail lines.
Metro West
This is an even bigger white elephant as it mainly serves shopping centres where car is king to carry goods or shopping.
It is also being used to justify a major housing developing at Clonburris but it would be of very little benefit for this
development. It is of very little benefit in serving the Airport as users would have to make a number of transport changes
to get to their homes etc. It does not link up direct with country trains even though it crosses the Cork line. It misses
out the whole industrial corridor on the outskirts that has the space, the potential for thousands of jobs and other activities.
It has so many flaws it is not worth continuing with. This is isolated planning at its worse, the scourge of society.
The real cost of Metro over time when all is taken into account already mentioned above could be near one hundred billion
Euros, no country or economy could withstand waste of this magnitude.
This new Luas City Orbital concept can be seen on our website www.dublinbus.org in Transport 21. Tom Newton National Transport
Users Association 086 3127364 E-mail circletransport@gmail.com
Transport 21 is a major undertaking, a plan that will decide the way our country and the economy will expand and perform for
the next century.Getting it right is vital for success.In any projects, flaws are easily rectified at the beginning but nearly
impossible at the end.There is one flaw in the transport system of our cities and towns that is the cause of most of our traffic
congestion problems - It is the RADIAL SYSTEM, which, like the spokes of a wheel, are directed all towards the centre. Unfortunately
Transport 21 ignores this problem and makes it even worse.
It ignores the abundance of existing transport facilities in Dublin.Its routing is not ideal to be most effective for
full integration. It uses different rail gauge making it less efficient.It totally ignores land use, the most important ingredient
for a transport solution.There is no provision for park and ride facilities.It ignores the city rail environment and draws
more people and business to Dublin.It has too many rail lines in our small city centre area. Transport 21 is extremely costly
because of the radial system and the unnecessary moving of the rail environment (underground) to St. Stephens Green. Building
a rail inter-connector when we already have one, that we don't use, does not make sense. The Plan has massive duplication
flaws including 'Nullification', the worst of all.
Dublin is a changing city with an abundance of existing space for land and transport use. We are all aware of the evolving
layout of Dublin, with so much development and more people living on the outskirts of the city and thousands more who now
live within a radius of fifty miles and commute into Dublin. This knowledge makes a solution easier. We must get away from
the idea of ALL for the Centre. Public Transport is a solution not necessarily by the numbers it carries but how it is routed,
in order to disperse activities and facilities more evenly throughout the whole area. We can address the main flaw in public
transport (radial system)with the orbital or circle plan. Its routing is vital for success. This immediately addresses most
of the Transport21 flaws. The routing of this orbital system for road and rail would run along the Industrial corridor already
forming on the outskirts of Dublin from Sandyford to the Airport via Tallaght, Leixlip (Intel)and Blanchardstown. This Corridor
has potential for up to one million activities including what is in place already, and would provide,initially, space for
one hundred thousand jobs with ample parking taking massive pressure off congested city centre streets.
This Industrial Corridor is now more important than
ever because of the many thousands that were forced
to the countryside to get a home and the fact that fuel,
car cost and child care are becoming very expensive.
The city centre is very well looked after with the
abundance of existing transport facilities mainly rail,
that can be made greatly more effective by inserting
the missing rail link, the existing inter connector (Park
tunnel) that is not used and the Luas city orbital
that will greatly enhance the city centre with the
new quick turnaround bus way. Quay contra flow
also further benefits the centre. This along with new
technology makes the circle plan easy, simple and
cost effective. Overall cost saving with the circle plan,
taking everything into account is near ten billion
euros. A country of our size cannot afford waste of this
magnitude particularly when its value loss repeats
every decade.
By facilitating the Industrial Corridor on the outskirts
with roads, rail and technology maximizing land use
(an essential in any transport solution), this allows provincial buses along with rail play an even greater role
in the future for country users as fuel becomes more expensive. Using standard rail gauge gives the added advantage of fully
integrating and maximizing rail to
its full potential keeping cost down with medium rail,
3 & 1 system and double quantity. It allows rail extend
countrywide with the added benefits for tourism
and freight. Dublin city centre is too small for an underground system when on street rail is so effective
and it already has an existing rail inter connector (Park
tunnel). The city will have many apartments within
walking or cycling distance of work. Cycling will be a
cheap future method of transport, even three-wheeler
with zip covered battery assisted, just needing a safe
cycling way on the Liffey.
We became one of the richest countries in the world
without much infrastructure. It would be a shame
to let a few people with vested interests destroy it.
Putting everything in the greater Dublin area will
create even bigger problems for the whole country.
Major roads or tunnels should be multi propose for
maximum benefit and sustainability. The Port tunnel
could take a Luas line, Oil should be piped to the cities outskirts and the port tunnel route could
be extended on the edge of the bay as an eastern by-pass
at wall level not to be obtrusive, for trucks, cars, rail, luas and cyclists. The most important element in this
eastern by pass is it would act as a flood barrier in a
time of climate change. Unfortunately Metro West
as presently planned is in the wrong location for a
satisfactory transport solution. It misses the vital
industrial corridor, is too far in to have any effect to reduce car numbers before they become a problem
with limited park and ride facilities in this area.
Park and ride facilities work better on rail lines away
from town stations where they only add to congestion.
A dockland station with its rail orbital (facilitating missing rail link) would make this hub the greatest
in Europe. It's in an area where the city has great potential to expand.
By addressing the flaws in Transport 21 we can have
a fully integrated transport plan that the people of Ireland will be proud of for future generations. There
is one more flaw in Transport 21 that we omitted to
mention: it contains isolated (transport) planning. The
circle transport plan amalgamates the two metro lines
with standard gauge and links the Cork and Kildare rail
lines from Adamstown to Leixlip allowing for much
needed additional luas lines from Blanchardstown,
Lucan and Rathfarnham to the city centre to link into the Luas city orbital. Transport 21 seems to be geared
to boosting big business while solving the traffic
congestion is only of secondary importance. Let's get
together and put it on the right track.
If we are to have an adequate metro underground
system it should be the worm or zig zag system
linking all the big areas together as there are very few
obstacles with the underground and trains can travel
very fast. Unfortunately due to cost, the economy, low
density and a more effective alternative this will not
happen. Doubling the Kildare rail line makes the circle
transport plan even more feasible and effective at just
a fraction of the cost of underground benefiting the
whole of the Greater Dublin Area and not just Dublin City Centre.
