Dart Underground's economic benefit 'will far outweigh costs'

THE BENEFITS of Dublin’s proposed “Dart Underground” outweigh the costs by more than two to one, according a new economic appraisal from London-based consultants Colin Buchanan.

A €2 billion proposal to link Docklands Station with Heuston via Pearse Street and Christchurch, Dart Underground is intended to provide for a reorganisation of Dublin suburban services with trains running from Greystones to Maynooth and from Hazelhatch to Balbriggan or Drogheda.

Making a presentation on the economic advantages of public transport investment to a breakfast meeting in Dublin yesterday, Paul Buchanan, of Colin Buchanan, said high-density cities had a high pay-off for the environment and economy and were more productive as employers had access to a greater pool of workers, while innovation always increased.

He said “Dublin without a strong commercial centre will not deliver the growth Ireland needs” and maintained good public transport was the key to creating one. His company’s analysis for Iarnród Éireann had found Dart Underground would be “immensely” beneficial in creating the strong commercial centre.

“Quite apart from tying together Dublin’s two growth areas for high density, Docklands and Heuston,” he said, Dart Underground would “sweat” the rail company’s assets, making much better use of investment in track and trains.

“It brings rail-based public transport right through the central business district (CBD). This is much better than passing beside the CBD as happens at present,” he told The Irish Times.

Mr Buchanan said his firm’s analysis was that investment made in Dart Underground would return a benefit about 2.5 times greater than the cost.

He made his presentation at a breakfast briefing organised by Dublin Chamber of Commerce and hosted by corporate lawyers Byrne Wallace.

Iarnród Éireann said it welcomed comments on Dart Underground which, a spokesman said, “demonstrated the crucial value of an integrated transport system” which, he added, would being economic benefits to the entire city region.