Sir, - I am delighted that Mrs O'Rourke has allowed extra time for a study to be carried out on the underground option for Luas in the city centre. This may be feasible, but an option which should be considered is extending DART all over Dublin, as the name, Dublin Area Rapid Transit, suggests.
This could be achieved by running Dart in a similar way to the M50, with lines coming into the city centre at five different points, e.g. Malahide, Coolmine, Lucan, Sandyford and Shankill. There are many benefits from this layout:
It would link all suburbs together.
It would link the airport with ferry ports.
A standard gauge would be used and not a light rail.
It could carry large volumes of people.
It would link the Cork line to the Belfast line to the Rosslare line.
It would benefit all of Ireland through park-and-ride or by using main line to circle line.
This is an ideal opportunity to use money wisely, not for this generation but for generations to come. - Yours, etc., Gerry J. Leigh,
Abbeyfield,
Dublin 5.