Rail chiefs want 100m tower at Tara Street HQ

Planning board derails €100m Tara Street scheme

A new €100m skyscraper, incorporating a train station, is planned for the city centre, despite the economic downturn. Iarnrod Eireann said it will press ahead with its ambitious plans — and is confident about finding a development partner to build a ten-storey 60m high office development at Tara Street. The company will apply for planning permission later this month to build the office block and train station, which will allow up to 14,500 passengers an hour to access Dart and other rail services. Tara Street is one of the busiest train stations in the country, currently catering to 25,000 passengers a day, or 20pc of all people using the network. However, the number of trains and passengers entering Tara Street will increase over the coming year. Iarnrod Eireann says an “enhanced facility” is needed to meet future demand. Dart and commuter services will increase from 12 services per hour each way to 20 after the city centre resignalling project is completed. The Dart underground, which will be completed by 2015 assuming it is approved, will also lead to increased capacity.

>Evening Herald