Dublin once had six major rail terminus stations in the city centre. Today, only three remain in operation.

Connolly, Heuston, Pearse, Broadstone, Harcourt Street and North Wall Quay and what might have been if the city had pursued a more integrated rail strategy over a century ago.

These stations were central to Ireland's expanding rail network in the 19th and early 20th centuries, linking the capital to towns and cities across the country. Broadstone served the west, Harcourt Street handled southern routes, and North Wall Quay facilitated passenger services near the port. Their positioning across the city created natural nodes for movement and potential development.

In 1915, a bold proposal of the Dublin Underground, aimed to connect these termini with a subterranean line, creating a truly integrated rail network across the city. If realised, this plan could have fundamentally altered the city's layout and development.

Instead of the concentrated commercial corridor we see today, stretching between O'Connell Street and Grafton Street, Dublin might have developed a more decentralised structure. Smaller commercial districts, or local CBDs, could have emerged around each major station, similar to the growth seen in cities like London, where transport hubs help expand the city centre and create more economic activity in the inner suburbs.

This alternative history is not just an interesting 'what if'. It offers a lens through which we can understand the importance of connected infrastructure and long-term planning in shaping urban environments.