Sir, - I note with interest a letter from a Mr Michael Murphy (manager, suburban rail, Iarnrod Eireann, and head of the DART) acknowledging that the DART is now over-stretched and unable to cope with current demand (November 10th). I am pleased that it has now been accepted that the DART itself is overcrowded and at times leaves people abandoned at stations. That leads me to ask what will happen if the overground Luas system is forced upon the Irish public.
Once again Luas will be "a victim of its own success". If this leads to a demand for more money for additional rolling stock we are placed in a ridiculous situation. Luas will have only a quarter of the passenger spaces of the current DART to serve virtually twice the population per kilometre at its opening. This will mean that CIE will have to try to bring Luas up to a DART level of service where it will encounter the impossible traffic situation that Dr Garret FitzGerald described and the capacity problems of which we were warned by the unified proposal.
We already notice the severe disruption caused by minor excavations in the city of Dublin. This prompts me to ask what the situation will be if the on-ground Luas proposals go ahead. I note also with particular interest documents that have recently been passed to me including the final report in July 1991 by the Steer Davies Gleave Consultants to CIE. This report stated: "Until such time as priorities are proven in practice in the locations needed and further studies are complete, it would seem essential to retain for consideration use of underground construction for public transport operation in the city centre."
At this point apparently CIE did not listen to the advice of its own consultants. This suggests that an instruction was given to those very consultants not to look at the Dublin underground option when working on the Dublin Transport Initiative. Moreover, Dr Garret FitzGerald advised CIE and department officials more than three years ago that they should be developing a dual underground strategy along side the on streets option as on street was highly likely to run into trouble. This is the same advice CIE's own consultants were giving them at the time.
In the light of these facts it is I think essential the underground option be given the fullest possible investigation. I am glad in the circumstances that we have a forth right and clear minded Minister who has pledged herself to give a proper consideration to the various alternatives. - Yours, etc., Senator David Norris,
Seanad Eireann, Dublin 2.