A Dublin City Alderman has challenged Iarnrod Eireann's Kildare Route Project, calling for a radical re-think of the strategy on which much considerable land rezoning has taken place. The Kildare Route Project is a four-track railway system into Co Kildare from Heuston Station, and is so important in infrastructural terms as to be mentioned in the State's National Development Plan 2000 to 2006.
The four-track project would allow the separation of inter-city and suburban services. Based on this logic and the impending arrival of a better-quality train service, Kildare County Council has prepared draft town plans envisaging rapid expansion for a number of towns in the Kildare commuter belt.
However, Alderman Michael Conaghan says the plan is fundamentally flawed as it does not meet the needs of inner Dublin suburbs first. Mr Conaghan told The Irish Times that at least three stations were necessary to meet the needs of people in the Ballyfermot and Inchicore areas.
Ballyfermot is the city's most populous suburb and statistics show its population has a high dependence on public transport. It has a railway line running through it, but no station. Inchicore does have an old railway station, which is closed.
According to plans for the LUAS system, there will be a major interchange at Heuston Station which will allow those commuting from Co Kildare to access all parts of the city from the southern suburbs to the airport. However, residents in Inchicore and Ballyfermot will not have a direct link into that system.
In addition to the demands of the existing population in these areas, there are literally thousands of workers commuting by car to the industrial estates in the area. A railway service could cut the number of cars in line with Corporation and State policy.
According to Mr Conaghan new stations are required at three locations, Sarsfield Road, Kylemore Road and Le Fanu Road, which he says would make more sense than encouraging people to go and live in Kildare and wait for the train service to reach them.
"I am asking now that the Government and the relevant minister live up to their own criteria where city working-class communities are concerned. I am calling for a fundamental review of the Kildare Route Project, and I am calling for consultation with communities here," he said. The strategic planning guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area which includes Co Kildare specifically recommend developing along public transport routes.
