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Improving Green Infrastructure throughout Ireland through the Lens of Historic Railways Ruairi O Nuallain University College Dublin School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy May 2020 Fig. 1 Craigmore Viaduct, (O’Riordain, 2016) Fig. 2 Kells Viaduct, Co. Kerry, (Independent.ie, 2019) The Kells Viaduct on the Ring of Kerry where the Dublin to Cahersiveen train passed by Dingle Bay. The last train to cross the bridge was in 1960. The route is one of the proposed ‘greenway routes’ for walkers and cyclists ii Abstract Throughout my childhood I used to walk along part of the old Sallins to Tullow Railway line with my family as the trains once passed only a few kilometers from my house. Many years later, when I was chatting to a Rathcoole local, he told me he was appalled that the stretch of land where the Sallins to Tullow line once ran, and where we had both walked many times, had fallen victim to urban sprawl. This paper is split into two sections. The first stage researches historic railway lines in Ireland and focuses on the issues of biodiversity in Dublin. The last faint impressions in the landscape were wiped away and although there was little evidence The second stage is a design based project which looks at a specific site where of the line, the pleasant walk was a design proposal is put forward for a green way incorporating a derelict railway gone. Interrupted by the walls of a line. new housing estate. The realization that memory and history can be wiped away so easily sparked a new interest in this old train line. iii Fig. 3 Dublin to Tullow Railway - (tullowmuseum.com, n.d.) iv Table of Contents List of Figures Stage 1 iii Abstract iv Fig 1 - The Craigmore Viaduct Cover Introduction Fig 2 - Kells Viaduct ii Thesis Statement 1 Fig 3 - Dublin to Tullow Railway iii Irelands Railway History 2 Fig 4 - The High Line, New York 1 Irelands Current Railways 3 Fig 5 - 1906 Viceregal Commission rail map of Ireland 2 Irelands Current Road Network 4 Fig 5.1 - Ireland’s current railway lines 3 Approach Fig 5.2 - Ireland’s National Road Network 4 Dublin’s Historical Railways 5 Fig 6 - Dublin Railway Lines 1920 5 Dublin’s Current Railways 6 Railway as a sustainable mode of transport 7 Fig 6.1 - Dublin’s current railway lines 6 Development plan 2040 7 Fig 7 - Dublin Transport Projects 7 Precedent Studies Fig 8 - The Royal Canal Greenway 8 The Royal Canal & River Dodder Greenway 8 Fig 8.1 - The River Dodder Proposed Greenway 8 The High Line, New York City 9 The Great Western Greenway 10 Fig 8.2 - The Castleknock Greenway 8 Schöneberger Südgelände Nature Park 11 Fig 9 - New York Context Map 9 Site Location 12 Fig 9.1 - The High Line, New York Map 9 Conclusion 14 Fig 9.2 - Image - The High Line, New York 9 Fig 9.3 - Image - The High Line, New York 9 Stage 2 16 Fig 10 - Context Map - Mayo, Ireland 10 Introduction 18 Fig 10.1 - Map - The Great Western Greenway, Mayo, Ireland 10 Sallins - Tullow Analysis 20-23 Fig 10.2 - Ballycroy National Park, The Great Western Greenway Topography, Land Use & Chosen Sites 24-28 10 Derelict Railway Infrastructure 29 Fig 10.3 - The Great Western Greenway 10 Mullaghboy Analysis 30 Fig 11 - Context Map - Berlin, Germany 11 Photo Gallery 32-55 Fig 11.1 - Map - Schöneberger Südgelände Nature Park, Berlin 11 Transition through Time 56-57 Fig 11.2 - Image - Former Railway Line 11 Drawings Fig 11.3 - Landscape Masterplan 58 Image - Schöneberger Südgelände Nature Park 11 Landscape Details 59-61 Fig 12 - Context Map - Heuston Station, Dublin, Ireland 12 Sectional Elevations 62-67 Perspective Drawings 68-71 Fig 12.1 - Map - Heuston Station, Old Kilmainham Hospital grounds, Material Details 72 Irish National War Memorial Gardens, The Phoenix Park 12 Main Gate Entrance, Rathvilly Analysis 73 Fig 12.2 - Image - The Royal Hospital Kilmainham. 12 Bibliography/Referencing 74-78 iii iv List of Figures Introduction Fig 12.3 - Image - Phoenix Park in Dublin 12 Fig 12.4 - Image - Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Dublin City 12 Thesis Statement Fig 13 - Map - Historic Dublin to Tullow Railway Line 13 As the Capital of Ireland, and the main urban area of the Fig 13.2 - Map - Current Dublin to Sallins Railway Line 13 country, Dublin should lead by example when it comes to good green infrastructure design, incorporating both new and existing green infrastructure and biodiversity into developments. Instead we find ourselves trying to repair the results of bad planning and greed. Careful Victorian planning lead to Ireland’s extensive train network of the 19th and 20th century and traces of the rail lines remain throughout the country. By recognizing them as rich green infrastructure and reincorporating them back into the urban landscape, biodiversity in our urban areas could be tackled, at the same time providing semi-natural linear parks that allow people to exercise, socialize and enjoy contact with nature in new and different ways. v Fig. 4 High Line, New York - (designyoutrust.com, n.d.) 1 1906 Viceregal Commission Rail Map of Ireland Ireland’s Current Train Lines Fig. 5 Map Rail Ireland Viceregal Commission 1906 (.wikimedia.org, n.d.) Fig. 5.1 Ireland’s Current Railway map - (Railmaponline.com, 2019) 2 3 Ireland’s Current Road Network Approach PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION When comparing both railway Great Southern & Luas Green maps below of Dublin city in 1920 Western Railway Line and 2019, the biggest differences PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION visible are those of the decommis- sioning of the tram ways through- Midlands & Dublin Tramways Western Railway out the city. The Luas red line is a brand-new introduction and the green line covers some of the old Dublin & Lucan Great Northern Electric Tramway Harcourt line. Heuston station Railway still stands as the main focal point of the train lines with the south- Guinness Brewery ern, northern and western lines Luas Red Tram Line still operating today. Line PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION Dublin & Southern Railway PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION STUDENT AUTODESK AN BY PRODUCED Fig. 5.2 Ireland’s Current Road Network, (National Road Network, 2019) When comparing the 1906 viceregal commission rail map of Ireland to the current 2019 railway map of Ireland, it is clear to see that the popularity of the motor vehicle had a huge impact on the railway system. Only the Min railway lines still exist today linking the four provinces with Heuston station in the Capital. However, if you compare the map from 1906 with Irelands road system of today, there are very little differ- ences between both maps. It confirms the decommissioning of railways due to the demand of the car and the railways replacement of roads. One must question this change over the last century as we are faced with constant traffic congestion. Could we possibly reintroduce Irelands old railway system in the future? Fig. 6 Dublin’s Historic Railways, (Railmaponline.com, 2019) 4 5 Approach Approach Railways as a sustainable mode of transport? Project Ireland 2040 Iarnród Eireann issued a report called ‘Going An environmentally sustainable public greener- rail transport delivers sustainability’. transport system will enable economic (Eolas Magazine,2019). Railways have always growth and meet significant increases in been an environmentally sustainable mode of travel demand while contributing to our transport. Ireland has large number of single national policy of a low-carbon economy. We occupancy cars in use, particularly travelling will see a decisive shift away from polluting to Dublin. As a result, congestion, pollution and carbon-intensive propulsion systems and and accidents will continue to cause issues investment in public transport will include for commuters and the resources consumed the Metro Link in Dublin, priority elements will continue to cause issues for the planet. of DART expansion, and BusConnects Electric railways such as the DART represent programme to overhaul the current bus the cleanest form of powered transport. The system in Ireland’s cities (Tii.ie, 2018). The emissions produced relate only to the energy expansion of attractive and sustainable source used for generating power. Trains can public transport alternatives to private move large numbers of people in comfort based car transport will reduce congestion into and out of cities, and between cities. and emissions. There will be a special focus The land footprint per passenger is very low, on the provision of safe alternative active compared to car transport. These are just travel options increasingly being chosen some of the many advantage’s railway travel by people such as segregated cycling and has to offer. The government’s target of a walking facilities and networks, especially in 30% energy saving by 2020 has already been our cities and towns, which will also alleviate achieved Iarnród Eireann. (Eolas Magazine, congestion and help to meet climate action 2019) objectives. (Tii.ie, 2018) Fig. 6.1 Dublin’s Current Railways, (Railmaponline.com, 2019) What other abandoned train lines are there in Dublin? The first public railway in Ireland was the Dublin & Kingstown Railway, which opened in December 1834 with a line between Westland Row, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. The train line was promoted as an alternative of the canal between Kingstown and Dublin. However, the primary traffic on the line became passengers and not freight. The popularity of the of transport grew and the Dublin and Kingstown Railway operated trains every day from then. In 1837, the line was extended at Dun Laoghaire from the West Pier to the site of the modern-day DART Station.

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