Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Transport the timescale under Transport 21 for implementing the Luas line to Broadstone and reactivating the Broadstone line to Liffey junction. [13557/07]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects the first passenger service on the joined up red and green Luas lines in Dublin City Centre; if passengers will be able to travel between Heuston Station and St. Stephen's Green and vice-versa without changing trams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13617/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.

I refer the Deputies to my reply on Tuesday last, 3 April 2007, to Dáil Questions Nos. 143 and 101 (answered together): The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) began a public consultation on five potential routes, A to E, for connecting the two existing Luas lines in November 2005. During public consultation a new option, F, was identified. Options A and F emerged as the better options and RPA launched a second phase of public consultation in January 2007 involving an open-day, display days, newspaper notices and distribution of newsletters focusing on the selection of the best of these two route options.

I also understand that the RPA engaged in dialogue with Dublin City Council, Dublin Bus and the Dublin Transportation Office in relation to the implications of the potential routes for bus services and other road users. Arising from these discussions, Dublin City Council and the Dublin Transportation Office recommended that a traffic management plan for the city centre be initiated, to facilitate light rail, bus and metro development. Dublin City Council will undertake the necessary traffic modelling and is committed to delivery of early results from this work, by Autumn of this year.

The Board of the RPA recently decided that their preferred route option for the cross-city Luas line is option F. The RPA now plan to commence detailed design work on the project based on this option. This will take account of the results of the City Council's traffic modelling results as they become available. Following completion of this design work, and subject to a satisfactory outcome to the city centre traffic management planning work, the RPA will submit a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanala. The construction timescale will be dependent on the outcome of this statutory approval process.

A second stage of this project will extend the line to Liffey Junction via Grangegorman and Broadstone. The selection of an emerging preferred route for the cross-city link will facilitate the commencement of work on the route selection for the onward extension to Liffey Junction. Subject to an enforceable Railway Order, the scheduled completion date for the overall project is 2012.

It is untrue to say that funding has not been provided for the linking of the Luas lines in the 2007 Estimates. My Department has allocated €173m towards the advancement of all Luas and Metro projects, including funding for the continuing planning and design work on the cross-city link.

Regarding travel between Heuston Station and St. Stephen's Green, I understand from the Railway Procurement Agency that while the operating pattern on the Luas system has yet to be finally determined, it is not currently envisaged that Luas services will operate between Heuston and St. Stephens Green without interchange. However, the Deputy will be aware that Transport 21 also includes funding for a Rail Interconnector which will connect the existing DART lines on the eastern side of the City to the lines running out from Heuston Station. New stations will be constructed at Docklands, St. Stephen's Green and High St. and these will link with Pearse and Heuston Station. When the Interconnector is in place, passengers wishing to travel from Heuston Station to St. Stephen's Green and vice versa will be able to do so without changing trains. The Interconnector project is due for completion by 2015.