The leafy new Luas journey

The Luas Green Line extension, which opens tomorrow, is a winding scenic journey through the foothills of south Dublin. But much of the industrial development and housing it was to serve has not been built

THE LUAS Green Line extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood, which opens amid celebrations and free travel tomorrow, seems destined to become the “country cousin” of the Luas network.

The additional 7.5km, which takes Luas through 11 stops almost to the Wicklow border, was to have been a high-capacity, fast transport link between the industrial parks at Sandyford and Cherrywood, and a catalyst for high-density housing and commercial development.

But, as the first passengers who line up for a free ride on Saturday will see, the building boom evaporated and a good proportion of the new line is a winding, scenic journey through the foothills of south Dublin, providing panoramic views of mountains and the sea.

Such was the sudden halt to developers’ aspirations that two of the stops, at Racecourse and Brennanstown, will not open for the foreseeable future, due to the absence of road access and local development.

Just under half of the €300 million cost of the line was to have come from special development levies on buildings approved along a one kilometre corridor either side of the line. But how much of this money has been collected remains unknown. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which says it has more then two decades to collect levies, is conducting an audit. Railway agency personnel confined their comments on the issue to remarking on how innovative it was that transport infrastructure was being put in place before the houses, apartments and commercial premises.

But if some of the promised business units, industrial development, housing and levies have stalled, what is left is still a very important transport corridor – for some.

Luas personnel have not been slow to point out the Green line will now connect Carrickmines and Fitzwilliam tennis clubs. It will also connect the premier shopping area of the city with some of the State’s most expensive private housing.

Leaving Sandyford, the journey starts with a climb up the new bridge across the Leopardstown roundabout, exposing the first of a series of views across south Dublin to the Pigeon House and the sea in one direction, the verdant Leopardstown Park Hospital and Racecourse in another.

As the tram turns on the curved bridge the foothills of the Dublin mountains come into view, as does the first stop at Central Park business campus.

The route then heads southwest across the M50, past the gates to the British ambassador’s residence at Glencairn, and on to the eponymous second stop. From there the tram turns southeast, down Ballyogan Road opening up a vista of Killiney Bay between the leafy Kilgobbin Wood and the Gallops housing estate. There are stops at the Gallops, Leopardstown Valley and Ballyogan Wood – until the line rises again, this time passing the upstairs windows of homes in Ballyogan.

The route goes eastwards back across the M50 to Racecourse stop. It was intended Racecourse would be utilised on busy race days but roads and paths between the stop and the racecourse itself were not completed.

So trams will speed on to the Carrickmines stop at the back of the former Carrickmines Station House, on what was once the Harcourt Street Railway. Here the line affords close-up views of the backs of very large houses on substantial, manicured gardens at Brennanstown Vale. There was to have been a new road offering access to a 350-space park and ride site at Carrickmines, but this did not develop and is now expected next year. The lack of development also means the next stop, Brennanstown, will not open this weekend.

Moving on towards Laughanstown and Cherrywoood there is evidence of fields south of the line being cleared for development, but they are now weed-strewn and the route twists and turns through open countryside. A deep valley close to Glen Druid is revealed, the tops of mature trees visible below the line. Next are quite magnificent vistas of Killiney Bay while another turn brings views across to the smelter tower at Kilternan. Views are also possible southwards to the Sugarloaf, with the Wicklow mountains in the distance.

At Cherrywood the line comes back to an industrial park – much of it as yet undeveloped – and crosses a bridge to the last stop, Brides Glen, located close to the Dell building in the Cherrywood industrial park.

Opening celebrations, which begin at 11am tomorrow, will involve “family fun” and treasure hunts as well as free travel on the entire Green line all weekend. After that a single journey fare from Brides Glen to Dublin will cost €2.80.