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AFTER CONSIDERABLE TEETHING problems the National Transport Authority say congestion issues on the Luas Green Line have been resolved thanks to the introduction of the much heralded, longer trams.
March saw a spike in passenger complaints as the service struggled to cope with increased demand following the extension of the Green Line as part of the Cross City Project.
The majority of the complaints focused on overcrowding and frequency of trams.
The CEO of the National Transport Authority says the number of complaints have fallen off thanks to the reintroduction of the longer trams.
“Now we’re back up to the operation that we wanted to be. We’re going to be introducing a new timetable in June, unfortunately it’s been delayed a month, and that will see improvements in terms of service delivery,” Anne Graham told TheJournal.ie.
Longer trams
The timetable was delayed due to a fault which delayed the roll out of the longer carriages.
The problem has since been rectified and five of the seven trams are now in operation. The sixth tram will enter service in the next fortnight and the seventh is expected to come on-line in the next month.
The longer trams, which measure 55 metres compared with the standard Luas length of 40 metres, initially proved controversial with many blaming them for increased congestion in Dublin city centre.
In one incident a signalling issue caused the rear carriage of one tram to block traffic on the south quays. The trams can carry 380 passengers, 60 more than the standard length.
Passenger numbers rose 24% when the Cross City opened up late last year. That increase has been maintained and Graham forecasts that numbers will begin to climb again when the remaining trams come into operation.
“We’re very satisfied that people are responding very well to the extension of the Luas Green line,” she said.
3 million Leap Cards
The NTA chief also commented on the recent sale of the 3 millionth Leap Card. The card can be used to pay for public transport services in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford.
“I would encourage those who have not signed up to Leap, to do so today. It is the hassle-free way to pay, eliminating the need to search for change for the bus or train,” Graham said.
The scheme has generated over €633 million since its launch six years ago.
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Title should read “Transport boss lives in LaLa Land”
I don’t go into the city anymore, I only go where I can take my car.
@David Huston: Then you are an idiot and plague on the city
@Darren Norris: Well he’s not a plague on the city. He doesn’t go into it anymore :})
@Darren Norris: “David Huston” ran into problems when he tried to take a trip to see his relatives in New York recently… The Water got in and flooded the engine!
@Michael O’Neill: as a large percentage of people. Liffey valley, blanch and Dundrum gain! I go thru the city unnecessarily to avoid the toll from south to northside. If the til ldodnt exist I’d be on m50 all the time. I only go to town on a Sunday when there’s few parking. Too much otherwise. 20 min drive or over an hour on a bus, guess which I’ll do
@kevinhunt101: maybe we just need a congestion charge in that case
Transport minister needs to be on the luas from citywest to city centre at 6.30 am. And also at about 5 pm…everyday for a year
@Eugene Tyson: IF Rush hour didnt exist, then the Luas would also not exist
@Darren Norris: Do not try to bend the spoon; that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth. Then you will see, it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.
@Eugene Tyson: he’s had 4 years to hone his trolling.
@Eugene Tyson: Would that not be the Luas from Sandyford then for him?
Great reporting…very one sided…maybe ask the folks using the Luas during the rush hour and not be feed the little sound bits that they are dropping into your lap
Need your head examining. It’s a total mess.
Just this morning a Luas leaving in Brides Glen at 7:10am people weren’t able to get on by the time it is at Dundrum. Don’t tell me they are happy with that already going forward. It’s a disgrace.
I’m not diminishing the complaints of people using the Luas Green Line, I use it still quite a bit and have witnessed the sardine-like conditions. But I don’t understand why overcrowding on the Luas is given so much more attention than consistent overcrowding on many Dublin Bus routes. I’m sure many commuters could sympathise with a litany of buses flying past your stop without stopping at rush hour.
@Jake Mulcahy: Dublin bus in 2007 had 1200 buses with a requirement for 400 more. Now they have 978 for the same amount of passengers. Unfortunately you cannot pour 1 gallon of water into a 1 litre container without making a mess somewhere. Plus the NTA say when buses are required, how many & where & how they’re to be deployed. 1000′s of commuters left stranded every day, the buses that are in service are dangerously over loaded. It’s a disaster waiting to happen…
@Matt Donovan: Not to mention the new Luas creating gridlock for many bus routes in the city centre and adversely affecting their frequency. Even though I live near where the proposed metro would go, I’d much rather see those resources being used to improve bus services.
Total BS story by Journal
All other modes of transport/commuters have suffered greatly since Luas Extension opened.
???Transport Boss has always been the Minister of Transport .
Some people also ‘believe’ the earth is flat, doesn’t make it true.
Imagine Irish Rail won’t give RTI (rest time information) to app developers to give the public accurate times on the phones etc. Dublin Bus is also backward regarding RTI especially on phone apps. Brown envelopes need to be handed over to those decision makers quickly. It’s the Irish way. Considering we promote big tech companies and grant aid their development yet won’t give them basic info for apps to work. NTA chairperson should resign. No other country would tolerate what our commuters put up with.
Just back from Dubai where they have a very similar tram system to our luas with a few major differences for the car owner. If you crash or cause any disruption to the service off their tram it’s an automatic fine or 30,000 Dirhams ( about €7,500) plus they take the license of you for a period of time. They take no shit out there.
On the Leap card, why isn’t it nationwide. It might encourage use of public transport in smaller towns, and us country bumpkins could use them when we go up to the Big Smoke (8th December/All Irelands etc)
Tell that to the luas on currently on
Can u smell that smell’s like shite talk
If anyone here can show me where analysis has shown that upgrading the green line to a metro is a good option could you please tell me what report it is in?
I have looked in all transport plans and none have suggested upgrading that to a metro
I myself am a luas user and i commuter every day and the redline is some what of a joke can’t even get on it most of the time
same today i had to walk to Huston station as i could not get on the luas at rush hour so i belive you should be looking at introducing longer trams on the red line also.
have your say