Skip to main content
Normal View

Light Rail Project.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Questions (823, 824)

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

1003 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the historic opening of the Tallaght Luas line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22295/04]

View answer

Written answers

Luas red line — Tallaght to Connolly Station — was officially opened by the Taoiseach on Tuesday 28 September 2004. There will be six free travel days, with paid passenger services commencing on Monday 4 October. The red line is 15 kilometres in length, five kilometres of which are on-street, with 23 stops and 34 road crossings along its alignment. The scheduled journey time from Tallaght to Connolly Station is 43 minutes and it is hoped to achieve this journey time in the coming weeks as road traffic becomes more familiar with the presence of Luas on the various intersections where Luas and road traffic share road space. After an initial running-in period, trams will operate at five minute intervals at peak times with 12 trams in each direction each hour. Expected daily patronage is approximately 40,000. The red line will enhance the integration of transport services in the Dublin area, as it links Heuston Station to Connolly Station and Bus Áras, in addition to providing a vital rail link to the rapidly expanding Tallaght area.

Michael Ring

Question:

1004 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport the exact date the Luas became operational; the number of accidents that have taken place since its opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22332/04]

View answer

Passenger services commenced on the green line on 30 June 2004 and on the red line yesterday afternoon, 28 September 2004. Since passenger services commenced on the green line, there have been five incidents. Of those two involved collision with cars, two were derailments and one involved collision between two trams. There has been no incident reported since yesterday's opening of the red line. However, during the testing and commissioning phase for the red line, there were six incidents, all involving cars driving into the path of trams. None of the incidents to date have resulted in a fatality or serious injury.

Other light rail systems worldwide have had experience of similar incidents in the early days of operation. There is an onus on motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to take care for their own safety along the Luas lines, particularly in the early period of its operation, when people are getting used to sharing road space with trams. Anecdotal evidence suggests that motorists are not properly respecting yellow box junctions, traffic signals and stop signs at Luas intersections. Driver behaviour must change for the safety of the motorists themselves and for the safety of Luas passengers.

Top
Share