The Green Party has announced an alternative plan for the proposed metro in Dublin, saying it would make more sense than the plan supported by the Government.
At a press conference yesterday, the party's transport spokesman, Cllr Eamon Ryan, said the first phase linking Dublin Airport with Shanganagh should be extended to serve Swords and Bray.
The underground section would run for some 6km from near Dunville Avenue in Ranelagh with stations every kilometre at Harcourt Station, St Stephen's Green, Tara Street, The Rotunda and Broadstone.
The Greens also favour a city-centre rail interconnector running underground from Spencer Dock to Heuston Station, via Pearse Station (Westland Row), St Stephen's Green and the Liberties.
The completion of this link would connect the four main rail lines into the city and allow for services from Naas to Howth and from Bray to Blanchardstown, Cllr Ryan explained.
The proposed stations at Broadstone, Spencer Dock, Pearse Street and the Liberties were all close to major land-banks at the edge of the city centre and had the potential for higher-density development.
Given that the €7 billion project was to be financed by a public-private partnership, Cllr Ryan said, it was vital that the routes be agreed in advance rather than left to a private-sector bidder to decide.
"Metro lines and extensions are under construction in 25 European cities at present, and there is no reason why Dublin should not start construction on its own metro within three years", he declared.
Cllr Ryan admitted he had changed his mind about the need for a metro because it was clear the Luas light rail system now under construction would not be sufficient to meet demand.
Despite the metro's "huge consequences" for the city's development, it had evoked little interest and no understanding among the public, mainly because people were fatigued by the transport debate.
Yet in two weeks' time, as the Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent TD, pointed out, the Rail Procurement Agency would be seeking expressions of interest in designing and building the proposed metro system.
"A month later an information pack outlining the preferred metro route will be sent out to those who have responded to the advertisement, and within a year a preferred bidder will have been selected," Mr Sargent said.
To avoid the mistakes made in the funding of public transport projects in Britain, the Green Party is proposing that the State take a majority stake in any consortium set up to build and operate the metro.
Cllr Ciarán Cuffe, the party's planning spokesman, said one of their demands in any coalition negotiations after the general election would be a substantial increase in funding for investment in public transport.
