LRT for Dublin `sound solution'

The introduction of light rail transit (LRT) has been a major factor in reducing congestion in other capital cities faced with massive traffic difficulties, the designer of the Luas system for Dublin said yesterday.

Addressing the public inquiry into the Tallaght-to-Middle Abbey Street LRT route, Mr Herve Chaine - who has designed 30 light rail and 10 metro systems, mostly in France - said the LRT concept for Dublin was "a sound solution" and had been designed with the experience of other recent European systems in mind.

Acknowledging resistance to LRT systems, especially during the construction phase, Mr e Chaine said a similar situation had occurred in Grenoble.

In that city just 52 per cent of the population was in favour of LRT before it was built.

However, another poll taken after LRT had been in operation for eight years showed a 95 per cent approval rating.

In designing the light rail system for Dublin, he had seen it as the backbone of the public transport system.

It would allow regular and competitive travel times, better access to the centre and suburban areas served and a capacity in accordance with traffic forecasts.

It was, he said, also designed to take into account various opportunities for urban enhancement, by including new landscaping, modern urban street furniture, lighting and renewed surfacing all along the line.

The system would have a dedicated right of way and priority at all light rail junctions, avoiding, as much as possible, waiting at red traffic lights. e said, adding who added that in Nantes and Grenoble accidents are around 60 per cent of those incurred with buses. Safety aspects of the system were outlined by Mr Joseph McFadden, a safety adviser with CIE.

The inquiry continues on Monday.