Emerging Preferred Route for Metro Orbital (Metro West)
The emerging preferred route for Metro Orbital (Metro West) runs from Tallaght to Metro North at Dardistown, via Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown. The preferred route is approximately 25.5km long.
The system makes provision for initial and future stops. Initial stops are defined as those that will be provided and operational on day one of the service opening. The future stops are defined as stops that may not be opened initially but would be implemented at some future stage as surrounding land becomes developed. Future stops are shown as yellow on the map.
Metro Orbital (Metro West) starts in Tallaght East on Belgard Road, close to the junction with Old Blessington Road. It will serve the Tallaght Institute of Technology, The Square Shopping Centre and Tallaght Village. A track link will be provided to join Metro West with the Luas Red Line which will allow trams to switch between the Luas and Metro West routes.
From Tallaght the route follows Belgard Road northward, to a potential future stop at Colbert’s Fort. Following this, the line crosses the Luas Red Line at Embankment Road where an interchange stop, Belgard, will be provided. AT this pint passengers will be able to change between Metro West and Luas services on the Red Line and its Citywest branch. The route then continues northward towards Newlands Cross.
Prior to the line reaching Newlands Cross a future stop called Newlands is proposed at which point a P&R could be provided. Continuing to Newlands Cross, the route will run at grade under the upgraded N7 (Naas Road) flyover and northwards towards St. Brigid’s Well. A stop, St Brigid’s, will be provided to serve the surrounding area.
The route then runs northward from Boot Road junction before turning east into Clondalkin Park before crossing the Nangor Road to serve Clondalkin Town Centre beside the existing Mill Shopping Centre. It then crosses the New Nangor Road and turns west towards Fonthill Road beside Dunawley Avenue. From here the route again turns northward to run adjacent to the Fonthill Road crossing the Grand Canal and the Kildare railway line at Fonthill. A new Interchange Stop / Station will be constructed where Metro West crosses over the Iarnród Éireann, Kildare line. It is intended that the rail P&R at Fonthill will be shared with Metro West.
The route continues to serve Rowlagh and then Liffey Valley Town Centre the latter, from a stop, Quarryvale, at the junction with St Loman’s Road. At this location a link between Metro West and the proposed Lucan Luas Line will be provided. P&R is being considered in this area. The route then crosses the N4 and runs in front of Hermitage Clinic before crossing the River Liffey and Liffey Valley on a new bridge. The route continues on the northern bank of the Liffey Valley to Porterstown through lands at Castleknock Golf Club and Porterstown Park.
The route then runs beside Porterstown Road and onto a new bridge structure at Diswellstown Road where it crosses the Royal Canal and the Maynooth Railway Line. A new stop will also be developed at Porterstown to facilitate interchange between Metro West and Iarnród Éireann Maynooth and Dunboyne services.
From the interchange stop at Porterstown the route continues to a stop at Millennium Park before turning eastwards to serve Blanchardstown Town Centre. It is intended that P&R will be provided as part of a redevelopment of adjacent lands at Blanchardstown. From the Blanchardstown Town Centre the route runs over the N3 to a stop at Tolka Valley, serving Blanchardstown Village and James Connolly Memorial Hospital before continuing northwards to run adjacent to Snugborough Road.
The route then serves the National Aquatic Centre (NAC), before reaching the junction with Ballycoolin Road from where it then turns to run eastward adjacent to the proposed upgraded road, to Ballycoolin stop. This stop will serve the Ballycollin Industrial estate and Blanchardstown Corporate Park.
The route then continues east adjacent to the Ballycoolin Road to a potential future stop at Abbottstown. From Abbottstown the route heads towards the M50 before crossing Cappagh Road to a new Cappagh stop provided to serve the industrial lands to the north of the M50, Cappagh Hospital, and residential lands to the south of the M50.
Continuing north to a stop at Huntstown, the route then crosses the N2 (Ashbourne Road) and runs to Meakstown. P&R is proposed at both the Huntstown and Meakstown Stops. The line then runs between the M50 and Dublin Airport with additional future stops at Silloge where a Metro West depot is proposed. The stop will be used to provide for the changeover of drivers rather than passengers but it may become a full stop subject to development in the surrounding area.
From Silloge the route continues to a possible future stop at Harristown close to one of the existing Airport long term car parks. Finally the route will link with Metro North at Dardistown. From here passengers will be able to travel northwards to the Airport and Swords, or southwards to the city centre.
Bus interchange with Metro West stops and suitable facilities will form part of the of the Metro West stop design. Car lay-by (Kiss and Ride) facilities will also form part of each stop design along with appropriate cycle parking provision.
There will be many structures on the Metro West route at rivers, canals, railway lines, Luas crossings and major road crossings. A signature structure is proposed to cross the River Liffey and Liffey Valley which is the subject of an international architectural design competition. The design of all structures will be sensitive to the amenity of the area they seek to cross.
Click here to view or download Metro West Emerging Preferred Route Map November 2008