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THE DREAM OF getting a train from Dublin Airport to the city is one that many a person has had.
But it will have to wait a while longer.
The National Transport Authority has confirmed that there is no plan to revive the Irish Rail plan to extend the Dart to the airport.
The airport’s internal infrastructure has been up for discussion this week amid a row between Aer Lingus and the airport and the publication of a planning document.
The draft National Planning Framework (Ireland 2040 – Our Plan) published last week by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government states in its Dublin section:
“Key future growth enablers for Dublin include: Improving access to Dublin Airport, to include…in the longer term, consideration of heavy rail access to facilitate direct services from the national rail network in the context of potential future electrification.”
However, the NTA’s 2016-2035 plan for Greater Dublin contains no plan for the rail link.
Serving Dublin Airport with a high-capacity, reliable and frequent public transport service to Dublin city centre and improved public transport network connectivity at a national level is, therefore, a priority for the transport strategy.
“In examining this, the Authority has evaluated a number of public transport options that could be developed to improve capacity and connectivity to the Airport and has incorporated the outcome of that evaluation into the strategy.”
An NTA spokesperson confirmed that the Metro link is the only rail plan being examined.
An Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson said:
“The NTA’s current Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy (to 2035) does not provide for a Dart link to Dublin Airport.
“However, Iarnrod Eireann does believe that the alignment should be protected to ensure the strategic option remains for any subsequent transport strategy, in line with the EU’s transport policy goal that key gateway airports be connected to the national rail network, to maximise sustainable travel to/from the airport, and given the forecast expansion of the airport into the future.”
The company has said its plan would be cheaper, less disruptive and more beneficial to the country.
They want to take the existing Dart line and construct a €200 million “spur” at Clongriffin. From there, the line would go into a station built beside the airport’s church.
The rail company says that the project could see a significant increase in passengers on the DART system and that fare revenue would cover operating costs, meaning no operational subsidy required.
Officially Dublin Airport says that it has safeguarded the site for a station. A spokesperson confirmed its preference was for the Metro North option.
This story was updated on 9 October to clarify Dublin Airport’s rail option preference
I saw him in Starbucks yesterday.
@Dj: the montage is a bit stiff
@Dj: oh boy that cracked me up
@Dj: oh boy that cracked me up
@Paddy Lynn: I overhead him complaining to the manager that his coffee wasn’t expensive enough.
@Dj: But was he as clean and well groomed as our 16th Century Paddy or Olaf of George because for all we know he could have been a blow in or a left over.
@Dj: haha lol
Dubliners have not evolved!
@oliverjumelle: Surely perfection cannot be improved :)
@Ken Hayden: Paper bag Maybe.
Alri’ bud.
A Hipster.
Looks like a young Barney McKenna from the Dubliners.. all he is missing is the banjo and pint of plain
No changes really
In other words, looks exactly like a current member of the DUP.
@Niall Lonergan: ??
@Niall Lonergan: my eyes are watering lol
A beautiful specimen
Looks like the same software they used to put a picture to Jesus
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: Which one? https://art-soulworks.com/products/prince-of-peace-canvas-art-print
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: Except with Jesus they didn’t have a skull. They just had someone draw a picture of a Middle Eastern man.
@Derek Walsh: With blue eyes and blond highlights!
@DaisyChainsaw: Alexander the Great and the Greeks had a great influence over the Jews at one time, they nearly became Greek for a while and the name Yeshua has a Greek influence as that is Jesus’s real name, similar to Joshua…
the dude abides!
Not much diversity in the Irish gene pool thus far so but we know that’s changing.
Sadly that’s changing.
Nope…. no blue jersey…
Story bud head on him!
Ah heeaar , Leave ir out .
These snapchat face filters are getting better all the time.
It’s Mick Pyro and Chris O’Dowd’s love child.
Is that you Barry?
Typical Dub, Very territorial, thinks there’s a difference between ‘Northside’ and ‘Southside’.
Calls everyone from outside Dublin a ‘bogger’ yet The Bog of the Ring exists in Dublin.
@eastsmer #IRExit: Man o War is in Dublin too but we don’t go around in tight leather shorts singing about swords and sorcery.
Getting ready for winter thon lad
Anyone buyin or sellin ?
They bloody haven’t changed much. 16th century looks, 16th century attitudes !!
@Pat Butler: what is a 16th century attitude? Come up to Leo Burdocks. Get some salt and vinegar on that chip on your shoulder.
i wonder how the”Dublin man” would look in the 26th century any ideas??
Giz a pint of bud bud
Evolved Evolved enough to destroy westmeath
…still trying to pay off his mortgage
It bad at all!
Val Kilmer is that old. Wow !
@The Jacket haha the iceman’s let himself go! I’ll be your wingman any century
@Noel James Doherty: Lol Lol double of Kazanski !
Like a Viking then?
Looks like Liam Neeson
Why are facial reconstructions always cross-eyed?
Absolutely disagree…obviously from Mayo (cross-eyed can’t see goal post to score(hair style is a throw back to the Phoenicians of Tyre who set up canton in Castlebar….the squint in hiseye has obviously had work done on it witch proofs he was well heeled and he kept fit by climbing the reek (soil under his toe nails same as limestone found in Mayo and Clare….
Looks a bit too tanned
@Rui Firmino: the cheek of you saying that
No change then
what was the point of the exercise, did they expect any difference to ourselves seriously, 3 or 400 years doesn’t change facial or head characteristics, this is so general it could be any modern human.
have your say