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https://twitter.com/GraemeMcQ/status/905368865596690433
DUBLIN’S NEW LUAS Cross City line has run into issues with traffic this week during the latest test runs, as trucks and delivery vans blocked the tracks.
Luas Cross City began morning and evening tests of the new tram service this week, which will run from Broombridge in Cabra to St Stephen’s Green.
Communications director of Luas Cross City, Gráinne Mackin, said that the tests were being run this week to “try to gauge the interaction of the Luas with other traffic”.
However, the tests were interrupted due to parked vans and vans along the tram lines.
“We weren’t surprised that we had run into a few parked cars or parked vans because when the tracks were being constructed there was no tram activity. They were essentially a vacant space,” Mackin said.
From next Monday, 11 September, daily tests will begin every 15 to 20 minutes.
Mackin stressed that parking on tram lines is illegal. A number of warning notices have been placed on vehicles parked on the line this week.
“For the first day or two we appreciated that people would not be familiar with [the trams] but we’ve been giving people warnings. We’ve been putting notes on cars that are habitually parked or vans that are parked for any length of time,” she said.
From Monday, any vehicles parked on the Cross City line will be towed, as is standard on the Red Line and Green Line, according to Mackin.
“I think people will very quickly start seeing that these spaces are being used and it will become part of people’s awareness that you can’t park there,” she said.
Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s Graeme McQueen posted images of Twitter of delivery trucks parked on the Luas lines.
https://twitter.com/GraemeMcQ/status/905022645598650368
He said that it’s important to work towards making people aware that changes are happening within the city and that trams will begin operating full-time on the lines soon.
“I think we’ve all gotten used to the construction taking place and the works going on in the streets but the works are now finished in most areas and the testing is now picking up so there are dangers around that,” McQueen said.
Hopefully the message will get through that parking on Luas lines and obstructing the path of the Luas is a no go. What will really concentrate minds is when vehicles start getting towed away.
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The bloomin’ thing should have been built underground. These types of random, surface-level obstructions are going to be a feature of life for the Luas Cross City when it is operational, as well as when it is being tested.
@John Reid: People won’t park on the tracks when they’re operational. Sure they don’t do it now on the other lines.
@John Reid: it should never have been built underground. It is a fantastic piece of transport and cost effective.
Don’t think Dublin is big enough to warrant an underground system.
@John Reid: Building underground ? Never going to happen, too expensive and complicated.
@O Swetenham: what’s “big” got to do with it? It’s about congestion. Dublin absolutely needs an underground.
@Camroc: Sorry, you’re right, the size is completely irrelevant, it’s all about congestion. That’s the solitary factor. Just congestion. Every city in the world, big or small, that suffers from congestion should have its own underground. Sure villages should have their own underground, just in case they might suffer from congestion.
@cortisola: Jaysus, don’t let the anti pylon lads hear you say that
@O Swetenham: actually only approx 3 km of underground line would have been needed, from just south of grand canal to broadstone station, as the rest is built on existing old track. Would make a huge difference to journey times, train frequency and train sizes. Plus the added bonus of less visible disruptions at street level during construction
LaRousse vans are practically famous for this lark by now.
@dar.i.am: yes, they are. They’ve been getting away with it for too long. Cycle lanes, Luas tracks, pavements… all up for grabs as far as they are concerned.
Introduce freight trams, providing delivery services for big retailers. Use the profits to drive down passenger fares.
I might enter for Dragons Den.
@Neal Ireland Hello.:
It’s happening, brother
“The electric trams shuttling car parts and groceries around European cities”
@Neal Ireland Hello.: Good idea. The freight trams could be run early in the morning, so as not to affect the normal commuter trams.
@Sean O: Too simple solution in “What’s in it for me?” country like Ireland.
@Richard Wright: Wait, why can’t you run dedicated freight trams inbetween passenger services? It’s not even very complicated logistically, all it would require are short sidings at strategic intervals. Literally 1800′s technology man.
Poor aul delivery lads will have a long walk when its fully up and runnng
What do they expect when they put a tram on the small roads in Ireland. A metro should have been built years ago. This country is backwards
There’s not half enough loading bays in that area, all you have to do is walk around there before 11am to see that there’s nowhere for delivery vans/trucks to park.
It was tested in June on some of our nicest summer days so why couldn’t they open it now or atleast earlier in summer?
@Stan: because the stops/platforms aren’t complete and if all safety checks aren’t performed and there is an accident. They be bankrupted with claims
@Stan: because driver training hasn’t started because it want finished…
@Paul: How long does it take to learn to drive a tram that you are well paid to drive then?
@Michael Geraghty: The stops and platforms should take no time to set up,they laid lots of track which has to be the longest park. Every other country has trams and metros etc for decades. We had up to the 1940s so we should have kept them and built metros etc.
@Stan: Laying the track was the longest part – it took 4 years!!
This will be up and running by the end of this year, once all safety checks are run and platforms are completed.
@Stan: Agree completely that we should have kept the older tram lines, but this is where we are now….
@Stan: stan its route training not tram driving and there are over 200 drivers who will get it.
Back in June the run was to test and see if the contractors built it and tracks were laid correctly.
The signalling system wasn’t in place when the run took place.
@meatyslaps: Would the older lines not be fairly rusty by now?
Why not get a motorbike Gard or two to drive ahead of the test?
I’d suggest clamping, but that might be more problematic.
@Glascott Richard Symes:
For sure. Joking about the clamping.
But getting a few Gards to clear the way with tickets doesn’t seem like a bad idea. And gets the word out.
@Sean O:
Unless we end up with 1.5m tickets in the system obv
I work as a delivery driver and I have to deliver to two customers on Dawson St every morning. there are two loading bays . The average delivery time to one outlet would about 3 to 4 mins depending on the size of the load .Bigger loads on pallets obviously take significantly longer ..The biggest loading bay half way down Dawson St was occupied by cars this morning This forces trucks and vans to park at the bus stop spaces . The bus operators always get annoyed with that and threaten to call the Garda. If the loading bays were properly enforced this wouldn’t happen .Usual Irish stuff..
@Michael Fehily: A loading bay being illegally occupied prevents a lorry from using the loading bay but it does not force the lorry driver to park illegally at a bus stop. The bus drivers are rightfully annoyed with the lorry drivers who do so.
@Derek Walsh: Yes true ..So any suggestions about what to do about the cars illegally parked in the loading bay. ??
Which is the point I’m making …
@Michael Fehily: The bus drivers have it right. Call the guards.
@Derek Walsh: I don’t have time to wait for the Garda Derek. In addition, the Garda quite honestly have better things to be doing..
Those dam vans and vans
Bus broken down on grafton st this morning. This kind of thing will significantly delay trams in future.
@Barry Davidson: The Luas won’t be going down Grafton St
@Glascott Richard Symes: Neither of you seem to know where Grafton St begins and ends
@Steve B: it will
@Glascott Richard Symes: they do.
@Glascott Richard Symes: Bus if a bus WAS to go down Grafton St, it wouldn’t affect the Luas…
@Steve B: it will run at the bottom of Grafton St
@Steve B: buses haven’t been seen in Grafton st for a long time.
@Theresa Daly: Between Nassau St and College Green? You’re not looking very hard! Not all of Grafton St is pedestrianised
I use buses everyday. Delivery trucks and vans blocking bus stops along with other clowns.
Time to fine these buggers
And how exactly did they get all their materials delivered during construction???
Ah God that’s terrible news
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