RPA Applies for Luas Broombridge Railway Order
The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), on 22nd June 2010, announced its intention to apply to An Bord Pleanala for a Railway Order for Luas Broombridge, St. Stephen’s Green to Broombridge, which, if granted, would permit RPA to construct, operate and maintain a light railway line between St. Stephen’s Green and Broombridge.
Click here to view or download the proposed route corridor for Luas Broombridge.
The proposed line begins at the existing terminus of the Luas Green Line at St. Stephen’s Green West. The twin track light railway runs northwards from this point and then turns east along St. Stephen’s Green North. A single track turn back facility with related crossover will be provided on the south side of St. Stephen’s Green North, east of the Dawson Street junction to allow operational flexibility. The double track then turns north into Dawson Street. A stop will be provided on Dawson Street. The stop platforms will be offset with the northbound platform located on the west side of the street at the exit from Royal Hibernian Way, between Anne Street South and Duke Street, and the southbound platform located on the east side of the street, north of Dawson Lane.
From Dawson Street the line turns west into Nassau Street, then north to run along the northern end of Grafton Street and then crosses College Green in front of Trinity College Dublin (TCD). At this point the tracks diverge, with one track running north along the east side of Westmoreland Street with the proposed Westmoreland stop located between Fleet Street and Aston Quay.
This northbound single track line crosses O’Connell Bridge and then travels along the west edge of the centre median on O’Connell Street Lower. The track crosses the Luas Red Line tracks at Abbey Street where an engineering link (for occasional use by trams out of service) is provided between the two lines. The proposed O’Connell - GPO stop will be located on the median between Prince’s Street North and Abbey Street, allowing passenger interchange between the proposed line and the Luas Red Line.
The route continues northwards along the western edge of the median passing the GPO and The Monument of Light (“The Spire”) into O’Connell Street Upper and then moves into the median. The proposed O’Connell Upper stop will be located within the median, south of the junction with Cathal Brugha Street.
From this point the line turns east on to Parnell Street for journeys returning southbound towards St. Stephen’s Green, thereby completing the single track loop, and also west on to Parnell Street, where the double track line resumes, for the northbound journey to Broombridge.
From Parnell Street to St. Stephen’s Green West
Leaving O’Connell Street Upper, the single track line enters Parnell Street to the proposed Parnell stop. The line then turns south into Marlborough Street. The proposed Marlborough stop will be located on the east side of the street, north of the junction with Abbey Street Lower. The line then crosses the existing Luas Red Line (where an engineering link is provided between the two lines) and continues south and into the west side of Marlborough Street to Eden Quay. From there the line crosses the River Liffey on the proposed Marlborough Street Public Transport Priority Bridge which is being provided by DCC. On the south side of the river the single track line crosses Burgh Quay into the west side of Hawkins Street. Leaving Hawkins Street the single track line crosses Townsend Street and Pearse Street and continues in a south westerly direction along the south side of College Street where the proposed Trinity stop will be located. The single track route then rejoins the double track line at College Green having completed a single track loop.
From Parnell Street to former Broadstone railway cutting
From the north end of O’Connell Street Upper, the proposed twin track line turns west onto Parnell Street where it runs alongside the northern footpath in front of the Rotunda Hospital. The line passes through the junction with Parnell Square West and remains on the north side of the street as far as the junction with Dominick Street Lower. The line turns north into Dominick Street Lower running along the west side of the street with the centre platform of the proposed Dominick stop located close to the junction with Parnell Street. A crossover will be located south of the junction with Dominick Lane to enable trams from the Broombridge direction to turn back for service flexibility purposes. The line crosses Dorset Street and continues along Dominick Street Upper to Western Way and then crosses Constitution Hill to enter the Broadstone environs. The proposed Broadstone stop will be located in front of and at a lower level than the former railway terminus building which is in use as Broadstone Bus Garage offices. The line passes along the west side of the Broadstone Bus Depot complex, where provision is made for a possible future stop called Grangegorman, before entering the former Broadstone railway cutting at the north end of the complex.
Former Broadstone railway cutting to Broombridge
After entering the disused railway cutting the line continues along the cutting, passing under the existing road bridges at North Circular Road, Cabra Road and Fassaugh Road. The proposed Phibsborough stop will be located in the railway cutting between North Circular Road and Cabra Road. A second stop, also in the railway cutting, will be located north of Fassaugh Road bridge. From Fassaugh Road the line continues along the disused railway cutting and passes over the Iarnród Éireann Phoenix Park railway line, before terminating at the proposed Broombridge stop alongside the Broombridge Station on the Maynooth railway line. A depot will be located at Broombridge as well as additional tracks and ancillary structures for the stabling and maintenance of trams.
Further Information
The documents that accompany the Railway Order application will be available for viewing from 30th June 2010 for a six week period ending on 13th August 2010 at the following locations:
An Bord Pleanála
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Dublin City Council
Civic Offices
Wood Quay
Dublin 8
Railway Procurement Agency
Parkgate Street
Dublin 8
These documents will also be available for viewing / downloading on the website www.dublinluasbroombridge.ie from 30th June 2010.