Sir, – Now that Metrolink is back in the news, it’s worth remembering how hopelessly inefficient Ireland is at building basic transport infrastructure.
Just as an example, the underground spine of what is now know as the Piccadilly line in London was build in four years between 1902 and 1906. The double-bore tunnel, with 22 underground stations, was dug by hand, with the help of many Irish labourers.
It’s been 24 years since then minister for transport Mary O’Rourke announced plans for the Dublin metro. Since then, by my count, there has been four iterations of the metro, approximately €300 million spent and what feels like longest planning permission process in history, and not an inch of the project has been completed.
Now we are hearing it’s time to go back to the drawing board again. – Yours, etc,
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STEPHEN O’REILLY,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.