A number of level crossings in north Dublin could be lowered for up to 30 minutes in any given hour under controversial Irish Rail plans, a community meeting has heard.
The meeting was arranged in opposition to the proposals for the northern line, which could see an end to direct Dart services to Howth, Sutton and Bayside stations.
Irish Rail has filed a planning application with An Bord Pleanála which, if passed and implemented, could see Dart services between Howth Junction and Howth turned into a feeder branch service, meaning these trains would no longer run directly to the city centre and beyond.
Hundreds of people attended Monday evening’s meeting, hosted by local Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan at the Marine Hotel in Sutton, to receive further information about the plan and to vent their frustrations.
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“We have had a direct train to Howth since 1848, long before there ever was the Dart, before women even had the vote,” said Helen Gilmore of the Howth Sutton Community Council. “I think we should give the same answer to Irish Rail that Kamala Harris is giving to Trump: ‘we’re not going backwards’.”
A second public consultation on the proposals, designed to increase train services to communities in north Co Dublin and beyond, attracted 1,748 submissions. Of those, more than half (55 per cent) came from residents of areas that would be affected by the proposed feeder branch, where there is a population of about 20,000 people.
With six feeder trains running in each direction during affected hours, Mr O’Callaghan said this could mean level crossing closures at four points along the line for between 13 and 32 minutes of every hour.
Of those who took part in the second public consultation, 77 per cent said they would not be encouraged to use the Dart over a car following such changes, Mr O’Callaghan said.
Many people expressed opposition to having to switch trains and the conditions at Howth Junction and Donaghmede station, where they would have to do so, with issues such as the high number of steps on overpasses, frequently broken lifts and public disorder raised.
“With a population that is ageing, it should be taken into consideration,” said one man.
Another woman said access to public transport was a key part of her decision to move her family to Bayside as it allowed her children to travel to college by Dart and she and her partner to get to work.
“We paid a premium for buying a house in that area so I don’t understand how they can justify that people in Dublin should get less access to public transport than people in the commuter belt. It should be the same,” she said.
In a letter read out by Green Party councillor David Healy, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said he understood the concerns of those using the three affected stations and for wider tourism interests.
However, his assurances that there would be further analysis and public consultation – in particular regarding enforced transfers and seeking an independent “external design opinion” for a Howth Junction and Donaghmede upgrade – were dismissed with boos from the audience.
Mr O’Callaghan said that even if Irish Rail secured a railway order allowing it to make changes on the line, it would still be open to the Government or An Bord Pleanála to impose conditions, such as maintaining existing direct services.
“This [plan] is an absolute disaster,” one man said, to cheers of agreement. “If it goes ahead it will destroy the area like [Dublin city centre] is being destroyed at the moment.”
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