Transport Plan

[finlma]

The government announced their new 'Transport 21' plan. It sounds pretty impressive but I won't hold my breath - it is Fianna Fail after all.

What the country really needs is a motorway from Dublin to all the major cities. It took me 4 hours to drive from Dublin to Galway at the weekend. To do a journey of similar distance would take only 2 hours in most other European countries.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1101/transport.html

[Aldini98]

It'll run over budget but sure the builders (AKA Fianna Fail) won't mind......

[dcfcsteve]

The government announced their new 'Transport 21' plan. It sounds pretty impressive but I won't hold my breath - it is Fianna Fail after all.

What the country really needs is a motorway from Dublin to all the major cities. It took me 4 hours to drive from Dublin to Galway at the weekend. To do a journey of similar distance would take only 2 hours in most other European countries.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1101/transport.html

The only 'motorway' needed in Ireland is between Belfast and Dublin. The roads between the rest of the cities in the country should be dual carriageways (or glorified 2-lane 'motorways', but no bigger). Alongside those, there should be reliable, frequent, quality rail services between the cities - removing a lot of the need for greater road capacity

Increasing road capacity has been shown the world over time and again to do nothing but create more traffic, with its associated problems. Ireland does need it's road infrastructure renewed/updated - but a country our size should be basing its transport planning on the likes of the Dutch (i.e. rail-lead), and not on the disastrous example set by the likes of the English (car-lead).

[Risteard]

I think the Motorway will eventually run to that brilliant roundabout in Cashel with the sign that says Waterford, Limerick, Cork, Dublin. I'm gonna drive to that roundabout some day and drive around in circles til i'm dizzy and just take a weekend in whatever exit i swing out on.

As for the plan, looks brilliant.

Its not pessimistic to hope for half of it to happen at double the cost.

[Green Tribe]

The only 'motorway' needed in Ireland is between Belfast and Dublin. The roads between the rest of the cities in the country should be dual carriageways (or glorified 2-lane 'motorways', but no bigger). Alongside those, there should be reliable, frequent, quality rail services between the cities - removing a lot of the need for greater road capacity

Increasing road capacity has been shown the world over time and again to do nothing but create more traffic, with its associated problems. Ireland does need it's road infrastructure renewed/updated - but a country our size should be basing its transport planning on the likes of the Dutch (i.e. rail-lead), and not on the disastrous example set by the likes of the English (car-lead).

What i would do for a train that runs west from Belfast, that fecking Enniskillen express bus takes over 2 hours to get me home (journey would be 1 hour by car).

[Macy]

It's nothing but a padded out press release. Very little new, bar the pie in the sky Atlantic Highway. Christ they didn't even get the western rail corridor right (the most important bit short term is the bit into Galway).

Also loads of ppp's, which cost the tax payer far more in the long term. Road users paying on the tick for something the Government could build far cheaper if they went to the finance markets themselves, especially at current rates.

[Macy]

The only 'motorway' needed in Ireland is between Belfast and Dublin. The roads between the rest of the cities in the country should be dual carriageways (or glorified 2-lane 'motorways', but no bigger). Alongside those, there should be reliable, frequent, quality rail services between the cities - removing a lot of the need for greater road capacity

At least Dual Carriageways, by passing all towns and villages on route. Have you tried getting down the country from Dublin on a Friday (or back up on a Sunday night)?

I agree about rail capacity, however, that only works properly if there are local transport services when you arrive.

As for the plan as a whole. Most of it was announced years ago. I mean how long ago was it Mary O'Rourke promised a metro to the airport? Cherrywood extension, and then onto Bray, first launched 2 years ago iirc.

All the roads paid on the tick by the users. ppp's are the worst kind of short termism by Goverments - the make no financial sense. It's like buying a house by high interest hire purchase agreement instead of taking a mortgage at mortgage rates. All because of an irrational fear of debt - it's okay if it's for capital projects ffs.

[carrickharp]

More Fekin Fails promises remember the “A lot done more to do” campaign before the last election? And don’t talk to me about crap roads I have to take the N3 home at weekends utter crap until you get past Kells .

[gspain]

The only 'motorway' needed in Ireland is between Belfast and Dublin. The roads between the rest of the cities in the country should be dual carriageways (or glorified 2-lane 'motorways', but no bigger). Alongside those, there should be reliable, frequent, quality rail services between the cities - removing a lot of the need for greater road capacity

Increasing road capacity has been shown the world over time and again to do nothing but create more traffic, with its associated problems. Ireland does need it's road infrastructure renewed/updated - but a country our size should be basing its transport planning on the likes of the Dutch (i.e. rail-lead), and not on the disastrous example set by the likes of the English (car-lead).

Agree to a point. And yes the Dutch have a fantastic railway infrastructure.

However I've driven in Holland and they also have a superb mortorway network too.

[pete]

Plans are great, FF do a lot of them but actually bringing in at budgetted cost is something they know nothing about & have no track record of.

I was looking at DUblin section of plan & amoung all the different colours its hard to see whats new in it. After a while its clear that there is very little new there & mostly focused on south side of the city again. Can anyone tell me why they have a metro through Abbotstown? i.e. underground.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Also agree with DCFC.

I think it's a blue-print for an even more car obsessed poorly and expensively serviced urban sprawl.

Mere lip service paid to the western rail link.

From my own Shannonside perspective -why a commuter rail link for Galway and Cork but NOT Limerick when Limerick has existing track structure on every approach to the city?

No light rail link to Shannon airport either which strongly suggests to me that this government is giving up on it.

[carrickharp]

light rail link

Being from Donegal I have to ask what is a rail link

[pete]

The main roads in the this country need to be at a minimum dualcarraigeway. This minimal addition would save countless lives every year.

This is a politically motivated "plan" with election in coming years. Its a typical "bit of everyone" type plan. Public-Private "Partnerships" are terrible idea - its what has caused the West Link Toll bridge in Dublin.

[Macy]

Can anyone tell me why they have a metro through Abbotstown? i.e. underground.

To service Bohs and Shels new ground.

[pete]

To service Bohs and Shels new ground.

Shouldn't that be Balbriggan then?

[thejollyrodger]

....e but I won't hold my breath - it is Fianna Fail after all.

Finna Failed indeed. The last plan was nothing short of a diaster. we got robbed and its still not finished. Half the stuff on the new plan probably will never see the light of day.

I just hope the METRO to swords gets built. It will me easier access (for foreign clubs )to Shelbourne F.C new home.

[A face]

Fianna Failed

You are not far wrong there !!

[pete]

Will this be like the "Dublin-Cork Motorway by 2008" plan?

Its easy for Bertie to say will come in at budget as he will be long gone by the time we find out the truth.

[anto eile]

hilarious plan. FF are just taking the pi$$ to see how many idiots fall for this nonsense. they have no intention of building this.
national stadium how many millions spent and therel be no stadium, the ridiculous overspending on a 66% completed luas plan.
this plan is absolute bull$hit.
not a hope in hell it will get built

[Macy]

Its easy for Bertie to say will come in at budget as he will be long gone by the time we find out the truth.

Even easier when they won't tell us the fookin budget!?!?!?!