Line B1 (Sandyford to Cherrywood)
Contents
Q: Will my property be devalued if it is adjacent to Line B1?
Q: What is the risk of damage to property during construction?
Q: Will there be much disruption due to noise and vibration from construction?
Q: Will Luas services be interrupted when Line B1 is being built?
Q: What will traffic disruption be like during construction?
Q: What will the hours of construction be?
Q: Will there be many construction compounds and where will they be?
Q: Will mature trees be felled along the route?
Q: How big are the stops likely to be?
Q: Will I be able to hear and feel the Line B1 during operations?
Q: Where will interchanges with buses be provided?
Q: Will Line B1 join with the Luas Green Line?
Q: Will P&R be charged or free?
Q: Where will P&R be located on Line B1?
Q: What are the risks associated with emissions during operations?
Q: Can Line B1 trams run on the Metro North line?
Q: Will Line B1 not just take people off the bus network?
Q: Can DART/suburban rail Trains run on Line B1?
Q: How often will Line B1 run?
Q: Will there be disruption to traffic when Line B1 is operational?
Q: What will be the impact on bus services?
Q: Is there a risk of damage to property during operations?
Q: Will buses need to be rerouted to accommodate Line B1?
Q: What will the fares be on Line B1?
Q: Can I take my bike on Line B1?
Q: Will there be good security and safety arrangements at stops?
Q: Will the stops be manned?
Q: Will Line B1 run 24 hours per day?
Q: What will be the ticketing arrangements for Line B1?
Q: What is the journey time to the City Centre from Cherrywood?
Q: How many people can Line B1 carry?
Q: Is Line B1 the same gauge as Luas?
Q: How will people cross Line B1 if it runs on the surface?
Q: Is their an EIS for this project?
Q: What will the stops look like?
Q: What will access be like to stops for people with impaired mobility?
Q: What will the Line B1 trams look like?
Q: Will there be many structures adjacent to peoples homes and where will they be?
Q: What are the benefits of Line B1?
Q: How many cars will be taken off the road?
Q: Will Line B1 relieve congestion on the N11?
Q: Why do we need a tram at all, would a bus service not be cheaper?
Q: When will Line B1 be open?
Q: Where do I get more information?
Property
Q: Will my property be devalued if it is adjacent to Line B1?
A: Experience from Luas, and other cities where similar systems have been built, suggests that the value of properties close to Line B1 will actually increase in value once Line B1 is operational as a direct result of the improvement in the public transport system. This effect is likely to be at its greatest for those properties that are closest to stations.
Q: What is the risk of damage to property during construction?
A: The risk of significant damage to property during construction is extremely low.
Surveys have been undertaken, protective measures will be developed for those structures likely to be affected and buildings will be monitored during and for a period after construction.
Contruction
Q: Will there be much disruption due to noise and vibration from construction?
A: There may be some noise and vibration experienced when construction is taking place. This will however be kept to a minimum and work will generally not be undertaken late at night.
Throughout the consultation process, RPA have been listening to and taking into consideration the genuine concerns of residents and businesses and other institutions who may be affected by construction.
Q: Will Luas services be interrupted when Line B1 is being built?
A: It is intended to keep Green Line Luas services running throughout the construction period of Line B1
Q: What will traffic disruption be like during construction?
A: The construction of Line B1 will cause some disruption due to the need to divert traffic away from the alignment and stop sites while work is in progress, but the work will be staged in sections so far as possible to minimise these effects.
RPA has been working closely with the relevant local authorities, the Gardaí, the DTO, the Emergency Services, the bus transport companies and have been consulting with local residents and business to develop traffic management plans aimed at minimising this disruption.
Q: What will the hours of construction be?
A: Some work, particularly where large structures are being erected over major roads, is likely to continue around the clock. This will be in order to reduce possible impact on traffic, to achieve efficiencies and to keep the work safe at all times.
The exact duration of works will be considered during the construction phase in consultation with the local residents, local authorities and other stakeholders.
Q: Will there be many construction compounds and where will they be?
A: The main construction compounds are located on Ballyogan Avenue and Ballyogan Road.
Q: Will mature trees be felled along the route?
A: A small number of mature trees have been cut down. Where appropriate and possible, replanting will be considered.
Design
Q: How big are the stops likely to be?
A: The stops will initially be approximately 63 metres long. Each platform will be approximately 3 metres wide, just like Luas.
Operations
Q: Will I be able to hear and feel the Line B1 during operations?
A: Line B1 will create generally the same minimal noise and vibration as existing Luas. Vibration can be mitigated by various damping mechanisms. These include seating the rail on resilient pads and in more sensitive locations (e.g. beside hospitals, houses and public buildings) placing the concrete rail bed on a resilient mat or pads.
Q: Where will interchanges with buses be provided?
A: RPA is liaising closely with Dublin Bus and other bus operators and it is likely that there will be many locations along the Line B1 route where bus interchange will be provided. The main interchange will be concentrated where large numbers of bus services pass close to or adjacent to the Line B1 route.
Q: Will Line B1 join with the Luas Green Line?
A: Line B1 join with the Luas Green line at Sandyford Stop and Depot.
Q: Will P&R be charged or free?
A: P&R will be charged, just like Luas. Although the charge has not yet been decided it is likely to be similar to the current charging on Luas.
Q: Where will P&R be located on Line B1?
A: RPA have identified the potential for P&R at Carrickmines. RPA would seek to negotiate an agreement to develop some of this area for Line B1 P&R. This is subject to negotiation, agreement and traffic assessment.
Q: What are the risks associated with emissions during operations?
A: There should be no risk of emissions during normal operation. The trams will be electrically powered as will most maintenance equipment.
Q: Can Line B1 trams run on the Metro North line?
A: Yes. Metro North will be designed to be compatible with the Luas system including Line B1 to take advantage of the economies and operational flexibility that this will provide.
Q: Will Line B1 not just take people off the bus network?
A: Some passengers will come from the bus network but a significant proportion will also come from private car and other modes of transport. Line B1 will offer a real alternative transport mode for trips from South Dublin to the City Centre.
Q: Can DART/suburban rail Trains run on Line B1?
A: No. Line B1 will operate on a different gauge to the DART network. Once the CIE Interconnector is built Luas lines will connect the DART network.
Q: How often will Line B1 run?
A: Line B1 frequency will decided closer to the launch of public service of the line.
Q: Will there be disruption to traffic when Line B1 is operational?
A: It is proposed that Line B1 as far as possible will be segregated from traffic, and therefore will have minimum disruption on traffic. However, there will places where Line B1 runs on the highway that existing traffic lanes may be reduced. Where Line B1 crosses roads at grade, traffic signal control will be used to minimise delays for both modes. The impact is likely to be minimal, similar to existing Luas.
Q: What will be the impact on bus services?
A: Where bus routes run in parallel or adjacent to Line B1 some rerouting may be necessary. It is likely that some of these bus passengers will switch to Line B1. This however is subject to more detailed engineering design.
Q: Is there a risk of damage to property during operations?
A: Once all civil engineering construction works are complete and the railway is in operation the risks to adjacent properties, structures and utilities is insignificant.
Q: Will buses need to be rerouted to accommodate Line B1?
A: Where bus routes run in parallel or adjacent to Line B1 some rerouting may be necessary. This will be particularly the case where insufficient space exists to facilitate bus, Line B1 and other road users. The introduction of Line B1 however, offers the bus companies scope to alter their network to complement the role of the system.
Q: What will the fares be on Line B1?
A: Line B1 fares will be set much closer to the time of opening. A full range of products including period passes for regular commuters will be available. Fare levels will reflect the commercial requirements of the system and may attract a small premium over similar journeys on other modes of public transport to reflect the faster journey times and other additional benefits.
Q: Can I take my bike on Line B1?
A: No. It is a policy of RPA that all capacity on Luas and Metro is for passengers and not taken up by bicycles. This is the same on DART and suburban rail. Bike racks will be provided at stops however.
Security
Q: Will there be good security and safety arrangements at stops?
A: Line B1 will be a very secure system for the passengers. The stops will be extensively monitored by means of CCTV and the vehicles will also have on-board cameras to deter unruly behaviour. In both cases the output will be recorded and retained for a while so that it can be used as evidence if required.
In addition all vehicles and stops will be patrolled on a regular basis by uniformed staff.
Q: Will the stops be manned?
A: Like Luas, stops will be extensively monitored by CCTV and by other means from a central control room. They will also be visited on a regular basis by mobile staff.
Operations
Q: Will Line B1 run 24 hours per day?
A: Line B1 will not run for 24 hours per day. It will run from early in the morning until late at night similar to the existing Luas. Luas operates from 05:30 to 00:30 each weekday.
Q: What will be the ticketing arrangements for Line B1?
A: Details of ticketing arrangements are yet to be finalised but the concept is expected to be similar to the existing Luas with open stops and ticketing via smartcards and self-service vending machines.
Q: What is the journey time to the City Centre from Cherrywood?
A: The journey time from Cherrywood to the City Centre is likely to be approximately 39 minutes.
Q: How many people can Line B1 carry?
A: Line B1 has been designed to carry similar volumes of passengers as existing Luas. (up to circa 5,000 ppdph).
Q: Is Line B1 the same gauge as Luas?
A: Yes. All Metro and Luas lines will be the same gauge to allow future interoperability.
Q: How will people cross Line B1 if it runs on the surface?
A: Line B1 will operate on the surface in much the same manner as the existing Luas. This means that in some sections pedestrians will be able to cross the track when it is safe to do so. Such locations will be where specific crossing points are provided, at all stops, and where the track has been constructed through a pedestrian friendly area.
Q: Is their an EIS for this project?
A: As part of making a decision on the final route, RPA and its independent advisors carried out an environmental assessment of each route option. A full Environmental Impact Statement is available on www.rpa.ie/railway_orders
Design/Accessibility
Q: What will the stops look like?
A: The final look of the stops is the subject on ongoing detailed design work, but it is likely to be based on the existing Luas stop design. The stops will have a modern, bright, open, safe look to them much like Luas.
Q: What will access be like to stops for people with impaired mobility?
A: There will be full accessibility to all stops with such features as low level platforms, ramps, tactile paving, signage and low floor trams similar to existing Luas. Full consultation will take place to ensure that the best solution for mobility impaired passengers is utilised.
Q: What will the Line B1 trams look like?
A: The Line B1 trams will have a sleek modern appearance. In many respects they will be similar to the existing Luas units except that they will be slightly longer (43m). They will be user-friendly low level units and designed for ease of access with level boarding. They will have a large number of doors for speedy loading and unloading.
Q: Will there be many structures adjacent to peoples homes and where will they be?
A: Areas where structures will be are:
- M50 Motorway
- Brewery Road
Benefits
Q: What are the benefits of Line B1?
A:
Line B1 will allow Cherrywood to fulfil its potential
Cherrywood has seen some of the most intense growth in housing and other development in the last decades. This has resulted in large demand for travel to and from and within the area and is currently more than the current road and car parking infrastructure can cope with. Line B1, offering an attractive journey time will become an attractive alternative to those now stuck in the increasing congested part of Dublin.
Line B1 will attract large numbers of passengers from cars
While Line B1 will naturally attract people already using other forms of public transport, Line B1 will remove considerable volumes of car journeys from the road network each year. Park & Ride sites at a strategic location such as Carrickmines in addition to existing P&R at Sandyford and Stillorgan will encourage car drivers from beyond the Line B1 catchment area to transfer. Fewer car journeys can also contribute to fewer accidents on the road. Preliminary forecast suggest that Line B1 may carry up to 25 million passengers per year More than half of these are forecast to come from car.
Line B1 will have positive environmental benefits
The decrease in road traffic as a result of Line B1 will reduce air pollution, noise and vibration from road traffic. By reducing the amount of car traffic, Line B1 will result in a reduction in the number of accidents and injuries caused on the highway.
Line B1 will contribute to urban and suburban development
Line B1 can be a catalyst for urban and suburban regeneration similarly to the experience on Luas. Investment will be attracted into the areas served by Line B1 and new commercial and service facilities will be developed. The construction of Line B1 can contribute to the renewal of local areas through careful integration of the Line B1 infrastructure with the local environment and high quality landscaping.
Q: How many cars will be taken off the road?
A: It is envisaged that Line B1 could take up to 15 million car journeys a year off the road.
Q: Will Line B1 relieve congestion on the N11?
A: Line B1 will offer current users of the N11 an alternative means of travelling between Cherrywood and the eastern towns of South Dublin to the City Centre. Some of these N11 users will choose Line B1 which will have some impact on congestion.
Q: Why do we need a tram at all, would a bus service not be cheaper?
A: A bus service whilst cheaper would not provide the high levels of service required to accommodate the projected passenger demand
Q: When will Line B1 be open?
A: Construction of Line B1 is due to be complete in 2010. The line will open for service following a period of testing and trial running in the second half of 2010.
Q: Where do I get more information?
A: More information is available from the RPA and Luas website or by using the freefone number below:
www.luas.ie
www.rpa.ie
Telephone: 1800 67 64 64
E-mail: info@rpa.ie