Luas link-up will cause problems for buses, admits DTO

The proposed route for Luas through Dublin city centre poses significant problems for buses, the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) has acknowledged.

The route, indicated by the Minister for Transport, Mr Cullen, at the weekend, would extend Luas down Dawson Street, along Nassau Street, College Street and Westmoreland Street.

However, this route already carries one third of all Dublin Bus services - amounting to 55 million passengers a year and it is considered by Dublin Bus to be too narrow in parts to carry buses as well as a dedicated tramway.

The bus company said the issue was "huge", potentially leaving it with no route through the south city in the central area between Westland Row and South Great Georges Street.

Having already had its terminus at Middle Abbey Street moved to new locations around the Pearse Street, College Street, Westmoreland Street, and College Green areas, to facilitate Luas, the bus company said it "would be extremely cautious and wary of further disruption".

The DTO told The Irish Times yesterday that the problem, which it acknowledged was identified by Dr Garret FitzGerald in The Irish Times yesterday, is "a cause of concern".

DTO director Mr John Henry said he was confident, however, that a solution to the problem would be found. He said the DTO was working on an update of the capital's transport strategy, A Platform for Change and a link between the Luas lines was being considered as part of this. He said he was "not surprised" when the Minister said he was in favour of the link.

Mr Henry said the case for linking the Luas lines would have been obvious to anyone updating the strategy.