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BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Liverpool's new public transport 'not a bus', mayor says
People have had a first look at the latest additions to a city's public transport network - amid fierce debate over what to call have started on Liverpool's roads to see how the new "rapid transit vehicles" will handle things like roundabouts when they start carrying passengers in have described the 59ft (18m) vehicles as "bendy buses" and have said they do not compare with Manchester's Metrolink tram metro mayor Steve Rotheram insisted the vehicle on show this week was a "trackless tram", adding: "If you take the tyres off and put it on rails, it's a tram." Rotheram added: "It doesn't feel like a bus inside because a bus doesn't have the headroom. "It's a very different type of vehicle – it's got three sets of doors, so people can get on and off quickly and its 30% bigger than a double decker bus."In Belfast the vehicles are called gliders. Their official name is rapid transit they have seating and standing areas, dark mustard-coloured padded seats and a grey floor flecked with gold other cities with rapid transit networks, passengers buy their tickets before boarding, speeding journeys up. Initial routes will link Liverpool John Lennon airport with the city centre and Everton's new Hill Dickinson Belfast, gliders use dedicated lanes on the city's roads, and Rotheram said some infrastructure improvements would be needed to in Liverpool to accommodate the vehicles. He said roundabouts might need to be taken out to "make it easier for these very long vehicles to get through the narrow confines of some of the roads". He added: "We want some dedicated road space – not for the whole route, because that causes difficulties for cars, but we want it to have some space where it can make rapid progress and shorten the time people spend on public transport." Plans for a tram system in Liverpool date back decades, but they never came to fruition. The metro mayor said: "We should have had a tram – there should be trams running here now – but that was abandoned because the Lib Dem council in Liverpool didn't believe in it." The Liberal Democrats did run the city at the time the tram project was initially scrapped, but it was the Labour government which said it wouldn't fund the increased said a "future benefactor" may decide to give Liverpool "billions" to spend on a tram system and if that happened, the infrastructure for the tram would be boosted by the work going on to accommodate the gliders. What are people saying? Critics have claimed the rapid transit system is not ambitious enough, that Liverpool should have trams, and be bolder about prioritising public transport on the roads. Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Liverpool City Council Carl Cashman said: "The fact we've got a bendy bus while Manchester gets more investment in their tram network says everything."Labour are prepared to allow Liverpool to play second fiddle to Manchester. "It's embarrassing that we've got a bendy bus, we need a tram." Leader of the Liverpool Community Independents Alan Gibbons said: "Where is the ambition? We should have been planning and building a Merseyrail extension to the airport and a tram system like the one in Manchester."But some members of the public who saw the branded vehicle for the first time were more who was on a visit to his home city from Dubai where he now lives, said he was impressed with the vehicles but didn't know what to call them. He said: "They are brilliant. "This is a great feature. I like how clean they are, and I like the bend in the middle. Even getting from South Parkway to the airport, you've got to get a taxi – so these will be brilliant."Rotheram added: "People haven't seen what this is, and they've heard this thing that it's just a bendy bus."Well go and ask the manufacturers who manufacture buses whether this a bendy bus, they'll tell you this is completely different. "Basically, if you take the tyres off and put it on rails, it's a tram."He added: "I'm not bothered if people call it a bendy bus, they can call it what they want."What I want people to do is experience it and then they can make their mind up." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
RTÉ News
23-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
O'Leary describes Dublin Metrolink as 'a waste of money'
Michael O'Leary, Group Chief Executive of Ryanair Holdings, has described the proposed Metrolink rail service in Dublin - that would also serve Dublin Airport - as a waste of money. He likened the estimated €20 billion cost to "ten children's hospitals" and says the project is "completely uncosted." Mr O'Leary said the Government allocated in the National Development Plan €2bn "for just the tendering process". He said the cost of the 18km project works out at around €1bn per kilometre. "Dublin Airport doesn't need it, Dublin Airport passengers won't use it, they're already well served by buses," he said on RTÉ's Drivetime. He said contrary to popular belief, people using Dublin Airport are all not "going to St Stephen's Green". "90% per cent of the traffic is going to suburban Dublin and down the country. "They're very well served by the existing bus capacity, which counts for about 30% of Dublin's traffic." Mr O'Leary said the Tube in London delivers only 16% of the passenger traffic to Europe's busiest airport, Heathrow, "and the Tube serves all of London". The "massively expensive" Metro, he said, will serve a "narrow corridor from Swords in through the airport in through Glasnevin, serving a couple of hundred thousand people". "And we are wasting billions of taxpayers money on a airport train that nobody is going to use and that we don't need," he said. He claimed that the Government "cannot be trusted," accusing it of already breaking an election promise that it would remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. He said no-one is willing to state publicly the likely eventual cost of Metrolink, which Mr O'Leary predicted will "easily exceed €20bn." He also accused Sean Sweeney, the New Zealander who was appointed Project Director of Metrolink last year, of "not knowing what he is talking about." Mr O'Leary said that a twentieth of the money - €100m - would pay for 400 buses which "do the same job" as the Metro, a project he said Ireland "cannot afford."
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LOS ANGELES UNION STATION TO HOST TRAIN FESTIVAL 2025: LA'S SPIRIT IN MOTION WITH RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, MODEL TRAIN DISPLAYS & MORE
The Free Festival Pulls Back Into Los Angeles Union Station for a Weekend of Trains, History & Family Fun on September 20 & 21, 2025 Link to Hi-Res Images HERE LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles Union Station, with presenting partners Metro, Amtrak and Metrolink, will once again welcome train enthusiasts from Southern California and beyond to learn, explore and celebrate all things rail at the much-anticipated Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion. This free, open-to-the-public community event is set for Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will offer visitors a dynamic lineup of railroad equipment tours and displays, model train exhibits, interactive information booths, live entertainment, giveaways, family-friendly activities and much more – all in celebration of Los Angeles' vibrant rail history and its evolving role in the city's future. "Transportation is about more than getting from point A to point B — it's about the people, places, and stories that compel us to move. At Metro, we're proud to make those connections possible, and there's no better place to see that in action than Los Angeles Union Station," said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. "The Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival is a celebration of the journeys we embark on, the history that grounds us, and the communities we build through shared travel. Whether you're a lifelong rail enthusiast or simply curious about how transportation can shape our future, we invite you to join us for a weekend of discovery, excitement, and connection at Union Station." An experiential trip through nearly 100 years of rail history, guests can visit tracks 13, 14, and 15, to tour and view displays of railroad equipment dating back as far as 1927 to present day marvels showcasing technological advances that continue to move the rail industry forward. Featured equipment will include the world-renowned Steam Locomotive, Santa Fe 3751, of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS) that returns to Los Angeles Union Station where it pulled the first named passenger train into the station over 85 years ago. Additional train equipment displays from Amtrak, Metrolink, and the Pacific Railroad Society will also be on site. "Many kids today grow up reading about steam trains in their history books but will never actually see one in person," said Alex Gillman, President of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society. "Santa Fe 3751 offers families, young and old alike, the chance to experience what a working, 874,000-pound steam locomotive looks like as they climb into the cab, meet the engineer and learn what it takes to keep this rare icon of American history operating today." In the station's historic Ticket Concourse, guests can immerse themselves in four masterfully constructed and uniquely designed model train displays created by Southern California's premiere model train clubs. From reimagined townscapes to depictions of the most well-known trains and routes, guests of all ages will be wowed by the immense details and care shown in each exhibit. Model train partners include Southern California Z Scale Model Railroading Group, Group 160 NTRAK Club, Southern California S Gaugers Club, and Southern California Traction Club. The recently restored South Patio will host interactive information booths for guests to speak with industry experts about recent and upcoming initiatives from Metrolink, Amtrak and California High-Speed Rail Authority. Metro will give away 5,000 commemorative TAP (Transit Assistance Program) Cards across the weekend. California High-Speed Rail Authority will debut an exciting new virtual reality experience that lets guests explore what the future of transportation could look like – through the eyes of local high school students. Created as part of a student internship project, this immersive experience invites visitors to board a futuristic train mock-up and see imaginative concepts brought to life in VR. Additional docent stands from Metro Art and Los Angeles Conservancy will be positioned throughout the station for guests to learn about the fascinating architecture, art and history of what many have deemed "The Last of the Great Train Stations." This includes, for the first time in many years, the public being welcomed into the historic Fred Harvey space to learn about the famous restaurant chain and 'Harvey Girls' – trailblazing women who brought charm and hospitality to railroad systems in the early 20th century. The original restaurant was designed by Mary Coulter, widely known as the inventor of Southwestern design, whose intricate details can still be seen throughout the space today thanks to the station's dedicated effort to preserve Coulter's original design choices and architectural legacy. For a unique guided experience of this space and other areas of the station, join California Preservation Foundation for one of four Hidden Gems Tours – a guided walking tour held at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day, conducted by the station's director of construction and restoration. The Hidden Gems experience is done in conjunction with the statewide program, Doors Open California with limited space and registration required HERE. An all-ages event, there will be a kid's zone in the Fred Harvey space for junior conductors where they will get their very own conductor hat and also enjoy photo opportunities posing with Travel Town Museum's restored Railway Express Agency delivery truck. To entice attendees to visit all activations, guests can visit and receive stamps at designated event stops to redeem their completed Train Festival Experience Pass for a limited-edition poster and commemorative pin. For more keepsakes, Metro Shop will be selling an assortment of Metro branded clothing and accessories and Merch Motel will be selling limited-edition merchandise inspired by the iconography of Los Angeles Union Station. Los Angeles Union Station, along with its presenting and exhibit partners, is excited to celebrate the far-reaching legacy of rail in Southern California and welcomes all to join in these one-of-a-kind festivities. To learn more about Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion, visit About Los Angeles Union StationSince its opening in 1939, Los Angeles Union Station has long been considered one of LA's architectural gems and a vital portal to the promise of the California Dream. The Station was designed with an innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco architecture now commonly referred to as Mission Moderne. The bustling 52-acre transportation hub sits in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles offering essential connections to destinations throughout Southern California. An iconic landmark, the Station serves as a vibrant symbol of Downtown's renaissance connecting the historic fabric of the past to the present through arts, culture, transit and community. Conceived on a grand scale, Los Angeles Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States and is often regarded as "the last of the great train stations." For more information, visit or follow @unionstationla on social media. About MetroThe Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on four light rail and two subway lines and 119 bus lines utilizing more than 2,000 low-emission buses. Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at and GETTING THEREUnion Station is accessible via Metro Rail, Metro Bus, Metro Bike Share, Metrolink, Amtrak and several municipal bus lines. Take the Metro A, B, D or J Line directly to Los Angeles Union Station. About AmtrakFor more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at and connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. About MetrolinkMetrolink regional passenger rail service offers reliable, safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation throughout Southern California. The Agency's 545.6 total service line miles and 67 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties connect people, communities, and businesses and is an essential link in the region's mobility network. Metrolink's Arrow service, which launched in October 2022 with nine miles of track and four new stations between San Bernardino and Redlands, provides greater local and regional rail connectivity. To learn more about Metrolink, please visit or follow @metrolink on social media. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Los Angeles Union Station Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Metrolink gets €2 billion funding boost - but no one knows what the final cost will be yet
THE METROLINK PROJECT is set to get a €2 billion boost in funding under the National Development Plan (NDP) – but the full cost of the long-planned underground rail line is not yet known. The plan, which was announced by the Government this afternoon , sets out what large-scale infrastructure projects Ireland needs over the next five to ten years. It details plans to invest €24.33 billion in transport between next year and 2030. Of this, €2 billion will come from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF). The government said this funding is being allocated to support the development of 'low-carbon transportation' projects such as the MetroLink 'before 2030″. According to the plan, the government has decided to fund the proposed Dublin rail link using the ICNF due to the 'unique scale' of Metrolink, which it said will allow 'the ambitious pipeline of other public transport projects'. The Metrolink, which is the single biggest public transport project in the history of the State, will have 16 stations running from Swords to Charlemont and is estimated to carry 53 million passengers annually. The 18.8km route will have an end-to-end journey time of 25 minutes and serve residential areas including Ballymun and Glasnevin, as well as the City Centre and Dublin Airport, and will link to Irish Rail, Luas and bus services. Speaking this afternoon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that today's funding announcement was 'a very definitive commitment to the metro'. He said that while the actual cost of the project will be 'very, very substantial', the coalition is very clear that is has to be built 'for the future of the country'. 'If you look at the expansion of Dublin, if you look at it over 20 to 30 year period, there will be continued growth in population in Dublin. I don't think you could sustain Dublin without a metro,' he said. The Metrolink will have 16 stations running from Swords to Charlemont. Metrolink Metrolink In a later press conference, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe indicated that the most recent costing for delivering the Metrolink is around €11 billion. He said the reason why an exact estimate for the cost of the project cannot be given is that there is now a procurement process due to commence. 'I'm not going to indicate what we believe the final cost will be until the procurement process is complete,' he said, stating that to do so beforehand could influence the value for money aspect of 'what it is a very, very big project'. The point was made to the minister that the public might find it hard to believe that the Metrolink will be delivered when there have been so many promises made about it over the last decade. Advertisement Donohoe accepted the point, but added that much of those decisions were influenced by the aftermath of global financial crisis, when capital investments was at a very low level. 'We tried to rebuild it, but it did take time, and we weren't able to give confidence regarding the money that would be available for projects like the Metrolink,' he said. 'There's only a very small number of projects that the government has given a particular commitment to and they are mega projects. They're in water and they're in transport. The main project that we are giving a commitment to up front is the mega project of the Metrolink. Planning An underground rail line for Dublin was first proposed in a government plan in 2005, but was shelved for several years during the recession. Cabinet approved a refreshed plan for the Metrolink in July 2022, with a planning application submitted to An Bord Pleanála that September. The current route of the Dublin Metrolink. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) lodged a Draft Railway Order seeking permission for the project in 2023 and received 318 submissions in response. An Bord Pleanála – now called An Coimisiún Pleanála – held oral hearings to facilitate third parties expressing their concerns around the project early last year. During these hearings, further documentation was submitted, which resulted in a second public consultation process being held from August to October last year. A decision on whether to grant planning permission is now awaited from An Coimisiún Pleanála, with the Irish Times reporting on Saturday that the decision is due before the end of the summer. It's now expected that construction may not begin until at least 2028 . In 2021, the Metrolink was estimated to cost between €7 billion and €12 billion. Sean Sweeney, the director of Metrolink, told an Oireachtas committee in May that that estimate 'is going to change'. Speaking to RTÉ News this week, Sweeney said that the full cost of the project will not be clear until 2027 until tenders for the project are received. Asked today why people should believe the government when some €300 million has already been spent on the project and building has yet to commence, the Taoiseach said this money was spent on 'preparation' for the project. Artist interpretation of the underground station at Tara Street on the Northside of the city. 'You just don't go to a planning commission without substantial investment, ' Micheál Martin said. He said these are 'enormous projects' which demand a lot of allocation in terms of the work that goes into planning, designing the route and preparing a planning application, adding: 'So actually, I would take the €300 million as evidence of our commitment to building the Metro.' Related Reads Construction of MetroLink project may not begin until 2028, transport committee to hear Ireland is wasting a golden Green Line opportunity to appease misguided south Dublin fears 'I had death threats': MetroLink boss foresees pushback but also huge benefits in store Martin was also asked if the projects planned for in the NDP would go ahead if there is an economic slowdown, particularly as a result of US President Donald Trump's 30% tariff threat. The Taoiseach said that the international investment community is needed for projects at the scale of the Metrolink. 'They need to realise that we're going the full distance on the capital, and we will take measures if we have to, obviously, to meet the impacts of tariffs. But we are very clearly signaling that, unlike previous times, we want to protect the capital side of the equation.' Asked again if the spending would take a hit, he added: 'Current spending will be under pressure if such a situation was to emerge.' Reaction Fianna Fáil Senator for Dublin Fingal West Lorraine Clifford Lee said today's funding commitment of €2 billion is 'a statement of intent' from the government for a project that she said is 'essential' to meet the needs of a growing population. She said there has been an explosion in population in north County Dublin, in areas such as Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk and Swords, which infrastructure has not kept up with. 'There's always a chorus ready to kill a big idea before it starts, but we cannot base national planning on unverified cost fears,' she said. 'Final costs for Metrolink will come through the tendering process, and that's still to come. Let's be clear: this is a transformational project, and its long-term value far outweighs the short-term noise.' €2bn for Metrolink is hardly a vote of confidence that the project will be substantively progressed in this decade. It's supposed to take 6 years & be operational in early 2030's. €2bn is only 8%- 16% of the estimated total cost. #Metrolink — Marie Sherlock TD (@marie_sherlock) July 22, 2025 Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West Grace Boland also welcomed the ringfenced funding for the Metrolink, which she said is 'essential to get the project off the ground and marks a significant step forward'. However, Labour's transport spokesperson Ciarán Ahern said the €2 billion 'does not represent the scale or urgency required to deliver the long-awaited rail project for Dublin'. 'Metrolink is supposed to be the country's flagship public transport project and €2 billion is no small sum, but in the context of the overall cost of the project, it's nowhere near enough. We're talking about a fraction of what's actually required to see this project through,' he said. Ahern added that it is 'long past time that the sod was turned on Metrolink' and called on the government to commit the full funding required for the project. Sinn Féin's transport spokesperson Louise O'Hara meanwhile said the fact that the plan made funding commitments to the Metrolink but failed to mention any specific projects in the western and northern region is 'deeply disappointing'. With reporting from Christina Finn Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
5 takeaways from the revised National Development Plan
Telephone-sized numbers allied to giant levels of aspiration, the Government has gone all in on infrastructure spending in this plan. But with the billions flying around and the totals growing ever larger in recent days, is this just "hype" as Labour's Marie Sherlock labelled it? The Government's plan will ultimately be judged on delivery and that will take years. For now, here are five things we have learned from the big announcement. Housing There's no mistaking that the core of this plan is all about delivering homes at scale, with €40 billion earmarked for housing and related water services. This is made up of €28 billion for housing itself along with further funding to remove blockages like insufficient electricity connections or a lack of water and waste water services. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today that housing is the biggest social challenge. But the opposition has reacted sceptically with Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty saying there are no extra social and affordable homes planned. While Labour has noted that the funding allocated to housing tapers down towards the end of the plan. Big Picture This NDP differs from previous versions as it only sketches out in broad terms the capital funding allocations for Departments as well as extra money for utilities. That means there is no long list of local projects attached to the announcement so no specific roads, local hospitals or schools. The Government says Departments will now take their allocations and work on specific details. Expect another announcement ahead of the Budget with Ministers and TDs heralding local projects. The only big infrastructure project cited is Dublin's Metrolink which will get €2 billion. Metrolink Long promised and never delivered, a Metrolink for Dublin has been announced several times over. But the Government now says it wants the train to leave the station with €2 billion of what is being termed ringfenced strategic funding. What's clear from comments today is that this is intended to send a signal to potential construction companies that the Irish Government is serious about the project. It is designed as an assurance that the Metrolink will be paid for and delivered. The aim is to entice bidders during the procurement phase expected to follow a positive planning decision. Plan B During the crash, capital spending was completely slashed and the repercussions of that decision are still being felt today. Housebuilding stopped, infrastructure projects were dropped and utilities were left underfunded. This time is different according to the Government. If there is a downturn, capital spending will be prioritised at the expense of day-to-day spending. And that spells political danger as it could mean real cutbacks to services already dealing with the usual inflationary and demographic pressures. Inflation Inflation remains a feature of the economy even if the rate of increase has slowed. But will the rise of €34 billion deemed "new spending" in this plan over the previous one actually just cover price increases for existing projects rather than delivering new ones? The Government has denied this is the case. But few would doubt that inflation will eat into the value of the extra money.
