Madam, - It is ironic that Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael transport spokesperson, in an article headlined "Transport needs dose of joined-up thinking", describes a project which delivers a joined-up integrated public transport network as "gilding the lily" (Opinion & Analysis, August 26th).
Iarnród Éireann's proposal to build a 5.2km interconnector tunnel from Docklands to Heuston Station - costed at €1.3 billion, not "several billion" as described - is at the heart of our Greater Dublin integrated rail plan, which would quadruple from 25 million to 100 million the number of passenger journeys on Dart and commuter services each year.
To suggest that the interconnector would "triplicate" the purpose of the Luas line between Heuston and Connolly and the Dublin Port Tunnel is to completely misread the purpose of the proposed link. The interconnector would deliver a second high-capacity rail link through the heart of the city centre, providing the crucial capacity to dramatically increase the number of services and consequently commuter capacity on the Northern commuter line, Maynooth and proposed Dunboyne/M3 commuter lines and Kildare commuter line.
These are the transport corridors with the highest projected population growths in the country - over 200,000 additional residents in a 15-year timespan.
It is not a question of the interconnector being a nice, optional extra inner-city link. It is a clearly essential piece of regional infrastructure if these expanding communities are not to be condemned to gridlock because of inadequate public transport capacity.
Furthermore, it would provide total integration between all rail-based modes of transport in the Greater Dublin and national context. It would allow for two high-capacity lines: Drogheda and Northside Dart to Kildare via the interconnector, and Maynooth and Dunboyne/M3 to Bray/Greystones, intersecting at Pearse. With inter-modal transfer points at Connolly, Docklands, Pearse, St Stephen's Green and Heuston, it would link all Dart, Commuter, Luas and Intercity lines into a cohesive integrated network. It also provides an opportunity to provide an Airport to Heuston Dart line, linking south of Portmarnock on the existing network.
To the suggestion that we would "like to be the recipient of all the money being spent on public rail projects", Iarnród Éireann and CIÉ do not propose the interconnector as the one and only plan. Dublin and the Leinster area is way past "either-or" transport solutions. We do, however, believe that to serve the commuter belts of Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and beyond, the interconnector is an essential part of any transport plan, whatever Metro or Luas options are decided upon.
Regarding the "pitfalls" that Ms Mitchell warns of, no other major recipient of National Development Plan funding has as strong a record of on-time, on-budget project delivery as Iarnród Éireann, with many projects coming in better than budget. The interconnector would also be delivered without any adverse impact on transport in the city during the construction stage.
Ms Mitchell concludes by referring to the "agendas" of various transport bodies. The only agenda to which we are operating is our public service obligation to ensure we can meet the needs of the communities we serve. To achieve that, the interconnector is a must. - Yours, etc,
BARRY KENNY,
Manager, Media
and Public Relations,
Iarnród Éireann,
Connolly Station,
Dublin 1.