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Metro North-A New Transport System For Swords
Metro North, when it comes will provide a high capacity and frequency Dublin transport for
the people of Swords and along it's path to Dublin City Centre. It will carry 20,000 people per hour in both directions.
The journey time from Swords to Saint Stephens Green which is on the south side of the city will take approx. 22 minutes with
service at every 4 minutes at peak times.
The Metro will run through the Airport on to Ballymun on it's way to the City, the route will
be deep bore tunnell under the airport and and built up areas and running on the surface on non built up areas.
Eventually Metro North will run from Belinstown, Balheary but initially the first stop from Swords
will be Seatown, then The Pavillions, then Airside Retail Park, the Airport
where the stop will be located underground, Dardistown which there are plans for development for residential,
business and park and ride, Northwood which is just North of Ballymon beside the N.C.T of which there are
plans to redevelop this whole area, Ballymun beside the civic offices, Dublin City University
at Collins Avenue, Griffith Avenue, Drumcondra Road beside The Cat And Cage pub, Dorset
Street near the Mater Hospital, Parnell Square beside the Rotunda Hospital, O;Connell
Bridge, and finally St. Stephens Green on the South Side.
With the current downturn in the economy and cutbacks in government spending it's uncertain
if this project will go ahead, the indications at the moment are that Metro North will proceed. With a full recession on in
Ireland and cutbacks within every government department a decision could be announced at any day to suspend Metro North, we
will just have to wait and see.
Economist and adviser to The Irish Government Colm McCarthy says that the Metro North rail line to Dublin
Airport should not proceed as planned. Mr. McCarthy said there is more that enough public transport to the Airport already.
He went on to say that during the present economic situation such funds would be better spent on schools
and hospitals, adding that Dublin Bus and the private bus operators along with the Dublin Port Tunnel provide easy access
already to Dublin Airport. Colm McCarthy also mentioned that since the completed M50 motorway it's now much easier for commuters
from any part of Ireland to get to Dublin Airport. Mr. McCarthy is not alone in his views of Metro North, many other
commentators and economists share his points of view.
The local T.D. Michael Kennedy has welcomed the decision of European investment bank board which has approved
a load half a billion euro for the metro north project. A park and ride facility will be put in place near the Donabate roundabout
at Lissenhall Swords. An estimated 7000 jobs will be created during the construction of the project. The decision on the metro
north will be given by the government in the summer.
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The go ahead has finally been given to proceed with Metro North. The Taoiseach Brian Cowen at a press conference
today 26 July 2010 said Metro North would proceed.
Update Oct 2010
Although the government has given the go ahead for Metro North it still hasn't agreed a starting time for
the project because of lack of money. The current cost of the project is over three billion euro.
An Bord Pleanala [planning authority of Ireland] has given the green light to Metro North today [28 Oct]
with some conditions. One of it's conditions is to cut 2.5 Km of the off the distance of the rail track, so instead of the
tram running to belingstown north of Swords an bord pleanala suggests it's final destination should be at Seatown Road junction
beside Swords Business Park
Update Nov 2010
As local councillors queue up to welcome An Board Pleanala's decision The Irish Mail On Sunday has reported
the project will be scrapped in the December Budget because of the cost.
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