Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has made calls for the planned Metrolink to be extended to UCD ahead of the deadline for a final plan of the route.
The Dublin Bay South TD believes the plan for the Metrolink, which is provisionally set to connect Sandyford in Dublin South to Swords on the Northside, needs to be revisited.
“We need to rethink Metrolink. It makes real sense to think big about public transport in South Dublin. By continuing the tunneling machine, either to Terenure/Tallaght or UCD Sandyford, we can keep the LUAS green line open and spreads the gain to other suburbs,” said Ryan.
Rethink Metrolink, a community group who oppose the current plans which would see a 19 minute commute from Dublin City Centre to the airport, claim that the development of the Metrolink along the green line would leave it shut for at least 9 months to 2 years.
The group have previously compared the current proposals to a “Berlin Wall”, believing it would ruin communities and cause commuter chaos, while instead campaigning for the metro to remain underground on the south side with a route going through UCD to Sandyford.
UCD student Patrick Finnegan says that it is a great idea as it connects the north and south sides.
“I think it is a very good idea. It would connect the north and south side a lot better. To the best of my knowledge you have to get two buses to get from north to south Dublin. Metros are generally more efficient and regular than buses with the added comfort so it would be worthwhile,” said Finnegan.
The MetroLink project is an estimated €3 billion in cost and would see the development of a northside-southside rail service in Dublin, connecting areas such as the airport and the city centre on a proposed route between Sandyford and Swords.
The project has already experienced turbulence in the north side of the city with a stop being relocated from Na Fianna’s GAA grounds to underneath Home Farm FC’s playing fields.
The MetroLink is scheduled to open for service in 2027 and would see a 19 minute commute from the airport to the city centre.
By James Nolan
Image credit: Metrolink