IRISH motorists are no strangers to park-and-ride facilities, but may be left puzzled by plans for a "kiss-and-ride" proposed for Dublin's newest Luas line.

Planning permission is being sought for a car park that would include the kiss-and-ride facility -- a temporary parking spot for dropping off or picking up passengers.

A total of 350 spaces are to be provided in the park-and-ride at Carrickmines.

The Railway Procurement Agency has applied for temporary six-year permission for the development, which is to serve the new Luas B1 line currently under construction.

According to the application, the park-and-ride at Priorsland will also include a bus drop-off facility. Permission is also being sought for an associated access road off the Carrickmines Roundabout, pedestrian access to the Carrickmines Luas stop, CCTV, cameras, bicycle stands, ticket-vending machines, public lighting, fencing, drainage and landscaping.

The Luas Line B1 project involves a 7.5km extension to the Luas Green Line southwards from Sandyford to Cherrywood through lands that are currently undeveloped and are zoned for high-density residential and commercial development.

The extension is designed to light rail standards but, as with the Sandyford to St Stephen's Green light rail line, allowance is made for subsequent upgrade to Metro.

The project consists of 12 stops (including works at the existing Sandyford Stop) over a mixture of semi-urban and green field land. The scheme will also vary between over ground and 'at-grade' sections, with four associated substations needed for power requirements. The line will be integrated with the existing systems at the Red Cow Central Control Centre.

completion

The line is due to be completed by the end of the year.

All track work has already been installed, apart from two short sections at the top of Brewery Road Bridge and under Glenamuck Bridge. The surfacing of the tracks is nearing completion.

Systems crews have started cabling for the control, communications and electrical works. Most of the overhead contact system (OCS) poles are in place and the contact wire installation has started. Like the existing Luas system, these wires provide a separate network to feed electricity to run the trams.

The systems installation will be followed by a testing phase which will include dynamic testing with trams. This includes testing of all electrical and power links, CCTV equipment and the integration of the systems with the existing Green Line. This detailed operational testing programme will be completed prior to the introduction of passenger services.

aphelan@herald.ie

- Andrew Phelan