Businesses in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin have asked the Minister for Transport to consider re-routing a planned extension to the Luas over fears that years of construction would have a "devastating impact" on the area. Carl O'Brien reports.
A group representing around 430 businesses in the area said yesterday that disruption to communications arising from the construction of a Luas line would cost businesses at least €50 million a day.
The IFSC steering committee says other options, such as a dedicated bus service, would be cheaper and more effective. It has also suggested an alternative route along the quays for the Luas.
The Railway Procurement Agency hopes to extend the Luas through the area, linking Connolly Station to the Point Theatre, within the next four years.
Mr Ciaran McDonnell, chairman of the IFSC steering committee, said plans to run the Luas through Mayor Street would lead to "chaos and disruption" and potentially damage businesses irrevocably.
"Interruptions such as those that occurred in the construction of the Harcourt Street line would be detrimental to business in the IFSC which relies on technology, and where claims would be a minimum of €50 million per day should vital communications and utilities be disrupted," he said.
While businesses in parts of the city affected by Luas construction have reported an increase in trade since it was completed, Mr McDonnell said the IFSC could not be compared to areas such as Harcourt Street.
"Harcourt Street relies on passing trade. If I can't go to Harcourt Street to buy a painting, I might go back. But if I can't get through to Citibank to transfer some money, I'll go somewhere else," he said.
A spokesman for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) conceded that there had some disruption during the construction phase of the green and red Luas lines.
However he said any disruption was kept to a minimum by consulting closely with businesses along the routes. The RPA is currently studying the viability of the IFSC group's proposed extension, he added.
The RPA estimates that the Luas line could be completed by 2008. However, Mr McDonnell said there was a strong possibility it could take until 2010 given the construction history of previous Luas lines.
The IFSC steering committee has concluded that a bus-based system could provide sufficient capacity to cater for transport demand in the area.
It says that if the Luas extension is approved, it should be routed along the North Wall Quay. This would link the tram to South Quays developments by proposed new pedestrian bridges.
It also says the docklands areas should be subject to an independent transport study to identify how transport issues should be addressed with the arrival of the Port Tunnel and the Macken Street Bridge.