DarganProject.com
Title
Dargan Project Introduction
Description
Dargan Project (Dargan) [1]
In 1991 Dargan responded to the then Minister for Transport Mr. Seamus Brennan request for proposals from the private sector ‘to take part in the upgrading of the Dublin public transport system. {RTE Radio 1, April 7th 1991, Sunday at 1, Minister Seamus Brennan interviewed by Sean O'Rourke; and at the Chartered Institute of Transport in Ireland National Transport Conference, October 1991}
Dargan is designed to take advantage of Dublin’s existing rail infrastructure by joining it together. It now proposes the completion of a city centre circle line (Circle Line) of which 54% exists, along with two new cross city lines to Templeogue and the Airport/Swords and also to upgrade the Blanchardstown line to full Metro standards. The Circle Line intersects with Dublin's existing 6 radial lines (4 irish rail and 2 Luas).
The Government's Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI) in 1992 examined transportation options for Dublin. In 1994 the Government endorsed the DTI recommendation for a 3-line Tallaght, Cabinteely and Ballymun on-street tram system.
Subsequently, Dargan continued to spearhead an extensive campaign for a Dublin Metro. This included lobbying Government Ministers, TD’s and their advisors, presentations to Dublin Chamber of Commerce, IBEC, numerous radio interviews, papers to organizations such as the Chartered Institute of Transport and extensive press articles. {For example. Business & Finance, Luas Light Rail Lunacy, July 4th 1996, Volume 32 Number 35. Seanad Eireann 14 February 1996: Senators David Norris and Fergal Quinn call for examination of a Metro Option [2] based on lobbying by Dargan.
From the case articulated by Dargan, the reaction from Government Ministers, business and the general public was positive. In May 1997 Dargan, supported by Mitsui and Nishimatsu two Japanese based companies, offered to the Transport Minister to build, on a lump sum turnkey basis, a 3 line metro system that included the city centre to Sandyford to Dublin Airport and to Tallaght lines or a modification thereof. The offer included to Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain and the planning process for the metro or a variation thereof should the Government desire.
In consequence to the foregoing, the Minister for Transport in October 1997 appointed WS Atkins Consultants to examine a 2-line city centre to Tallaght and Sandyford underground option as against an on-street tram option.
On the assumption that the preferred Government decision would be for a metro to run underground in the city centre and in order to provide an innovative solution to the provision of rail infrastructure, the Dargan 3 line metro proposal was again made to the Minister, with the support of Mitsui and Nishimatsu, taking on board the development of the Luas proposal at that time.
Atkins reported to the Minister in April 1998 recommending a city centre on-street tram option. {Dublin Light Rail Appraisal of Underground Options, April 1998, the Department of Public Enterprise (now Transport), by W S Atkins International Ltd.}
A week after their Report, Dargan made a compromise proposal to the Minister, which was in accord with its earlier submission, to provide forthwith the metro route to the Airport and integrate it under the city centre (rather than on-street) with the Sandyford route. Dargan's contention included the lack of tram capacity in the city centre. In May 1998 the Government made a decision, subject to due process, to proceed with a metro underground in the city centre rather than on-street. In effect their decision, based on Luas patronage capacity constraints, etc, dropped the city centre’s Luas on-street link between the Sandyford and Tallaght lines and supported Dargan.
In April 2000, again supported by Mitsui and Nishimatsu, Dargan presented its proposal to the Government Cabinet Ministerial Committee on Infrastructure. Many Cabinet Ministers, their Departmental Secretary-Generals and advisors attended. The Dargan proposal included a city centre Circle Line, radial rail lines to the Airport and Templeogue and a Blanchardstown Circle Line.
As a direct consequence of Dargan’s efforts, the Government took on board proposals that Dublin should/could have a Metro.
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