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25th February 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 07 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
€150m SHAM
The proposed new Bus Rapid Transit system, Swiftway, which is claimed will reduce bus travel time from Swords to the city centre, has been exposed as nothing more than an elaborate waste of tax payers’ money. The County Leader carried out it’s own research into the travel times from Swords to the city centre, at different times of the day, using different bus services, with startling results. The proposed new service is claimed to reduce travel time from Swords to O'Connell Bridge by half, to just 35 minutes (not including the airport). On the face of it, this seems quite impressive, until we sent one of our journalists on a number of bus journeys, to and from the city centre, from Swords. We discovered that the longest time taken was 45 minutes. This survey was taken on Tuesday last, when our journalist travelled on the 41C bus, which left Swords at 1.35pm and reached it’s destination at Lower Abbey Street at 2.16pm, a total of 41 minuutes. It is worth noting that this bus travelled through River Valley estate, which the new Swiftway won't do. This added significant time to the journey, yet the difference is only six minutes. The journey back to Swords took 35 minutes, leaving the city at 2.55pm and reaching Swords at 3.30pm Our journalist travelled to the city centre on the Swords Express on the same day. This journey took 34 minutes, with the return journey taking a mere 24 minutes. Furthermore, our researcher surveyed the time taken from the airport to the city centre on DUBLIN BUS 41C (Via River Valley) TO CITY CENTRE
41 Minutes
By Patrick Finnegan & Emily Nicholas Aircoach, and the time taken was an impressive 18 minutes, with the number 41 bus taking 13 minutes to reach the airport. A survey of passengers was also undertaken, with most people expressing their satisfaction with the service as it stands. The result of this survey can be seen on page 6 of this paper. To copperfasten our research, a further journey was also taken on Thursday last on the number 41. This bus left Swords Main Street at 9.19am and arrived in O'Connell Street at 10.04am, a journey time of 45 minutes. It is important to note that this bus went through the airport. These times make nonsense of the NTA figures. Many locals believe that the agenda here is to preserve Dublin Bus' stake in the Swords route, by introducing Swiftway, instead of a light rail system. Indeed, local senator, Darragh O'Brien pulled no punches, when he asserted that we, the people of Swords, had been 'sold a pup' in terms of this rail project going ahead, and that Swiftway is now a permanent replacement service for the promised rail system. From this, it is quite clear that the Swiftway service, which has already caused an uproar in parts of Swords, is a shameful waste of taxpayers’ money. It is
DUBLIN BUS 41 (Via Airport) TO CITY CENTRE
45 Minutes
AIRCOACH from Airport TO CITY CENTRE
More Waste Of Your Money now abundantly evident that the cost of approximately €150 million represents very poor value for money. Bus travellers can now, as demonstrated, get from Swords to the city centre, on a variety of bus services, in around six minutes more than the proposed Swiftway service. The existing bus service does not take anything like the time the NTA claims, so why are we spending a whopping €150 million on a project that many regard as utterly unnecessary, and saves about six minutes per journey. The fact that roads are going to be dug up and commuters will be subjected to more demoralising roadworks, on their journey to the city, and all for just six minutes!. The cost benefit analysis of this project should make interesting reading. Locals to whom we have spoken say the entire project smacks of an elaborate sham and is clearly deigned to replace the light railway system, that has
18 Minutes
BUS EIREANN 101 (via Airport) TO CITY CENTRE
been promised by local politicians for the last two decades. Obstacles have regularly been placed in the way of this vital piece of infrastructure going ahead. Every candidate in general elections over the past 20 years, has promised a light rail system for the North County. Many angry residents, who spoke to this newspaper, are adamant that the North County is regarded as the 'runt of the litter' as far as other areas of the city are concerned. They cite the fact that south Dublin already has a light rail service in the form of the Luas, as well as the DART service. Throw in the fact that an international airport is located in the heart of the North County, and the lack of a light rail system is seen as an absolute disgrace, that leaves a lasting impression on the many visitors, who must be aghast at their first impression of a city without a decent transport service.
40 Minutes
SWORDS EXPRESS TO CITY CENTRE
34 Minutes