Luas: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 19:17, 23 August 2025

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{{short description|Tram system in Dublin, Ireland}}

'''Luas''' ([[Irish language|Irish]] for 'speed') - also promoted in the development stage as the '''Dublin Light Rail System''' - currently encompasses two unconnected on-street [[light rail]] transit system in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]]. As with all [[Dublin]] fittings and fixtures, the Luas has already got alternative names: the '''Jerry Lee''' or the '''Daniel Day''' are some examples. Its most notable nickname however is the '''Snail on the Rail'''. Originally under the organisation of [[Córas Iompair Éireann]], the project was moved to the [[Railway Procurement Agency]] [http://www.rpa.ie] upon that body's inception, whilst it is operated by [[Connex]]. The Luas is a major part of the [[Dublin Transportation Office]] [http://www.dto.ie] 'DTO strategy (2000-2016)'.

{{other uses|LUAS (disambiguation)}}

{{about|the modern light rail system in Dublin|the city's historic tram system|Dublin tramways}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox public transit

| name = Luas

| image = Luas.svg

| imagesize = 200px

| image2 = The LUAS - Dublin City Centre (180mm) (1507653387).jpg

| imagesize2 = 300px

| caption2 = [[Red Line (Luas)|Red line]] Luas tram in Dublin city centre

| locale = [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]

| transit_type = [[Tram]] (or [[Light rail]])

| lines = 2 ([[Red Line (Luas)|Red]] and [[Green Line (Luas)|Green]])

| stations = 67

| annual_ridership = 48.2 million passengers<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Record highs for public transport passenger numbers in 2023 |url=https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/record-highs-for-public-transport-passenger-numbers-in-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117170818/https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/record-highs-for-public-transport-passenger-numbers-in-2023/ |archive-date=17 January 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref> (2023)

| began_operation = {{start date and age|2004|6|30|df=yes}}

| operator = [[Transdev]]

| vehicles = 40 [[Alstom Citadis|Citadis]] 401 (4000 Class)<br />41 Citadis 502 (5000 Class)

| system_length = {{convert|42.1|km|mi}}<ref name="Luas-faq">{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103175103/http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |archive-date=3 January 2012 |access-date=1 July 2013 |publisher=Luas}}</ref>

| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}

| el = {{750 V DC}} [[overhead line]]

| map = [[File:Luas system map.png|240px]]

| map_name = Luas route map

| ridership = {{circa|140,000}} passengers<ref name="Luas-faq2024">{{Cite web |title={{sic|FAQ's|hide=y}} |url=https://luas.ie/faq/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250308180904/https://luas.ie/faq/ |archive-date=8 March 2025 |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref>

| website = {{URL|Luas.ie}}<br />{{URL|www.LuasFinglas.ie/}} (extension)

| minimum_radius_of_curvature = 25 metres <ref>{{Cite web |title=Information about the Luas track and power supply |url=https://www.tii.ie/en/public-transport/luas/track-power/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612135002/https://www.tii.ie/en/public-transport/luas/track-power/ |archive-date=2024-06-12 |website=[[TII.ie]]}}</ref>

}}

'''Luas''' ({{IPAc-en|'|l|uː|ə|s}}, [[Irish language|Irish]]: {{IPA|ga|ˈl̪ˠuəsˠ|}}; meaning 'speed') is a [[tram]] system in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. There are two main lines: the [[Green Line (Luas)|Green Line]], which began operating on 30 June 2004, and the [[Red Line (Luas)|Red Line]] which opened on 26 September 2004. Since then, the red line has been extended and split into different branches further out of the city and the green line has been extended north and south as a single line. Since the northern extension of the green line in 2017, the two lines intersect in the city centre. The system now has 67 stops and {{convert|42.5|km|miyd}} of revenue track,<ref name="Luas-faq" /> which in 2023 carried 48.2&nbsp;million passengers, an increase of 24% compared to 2022.<ref name="auto" />

==Operation==

The system runs off a 750 [[volt]] [[DC]] overhead power supply, and one two-carriage tram can carry 235 people. The [[Standard gauge|standard]] European [[gauge]] of 1435 mm (or more traditionally, 4 ft 8&frac12; ins) is being used rather than the Irish gauge of 1600 mm (5 ft 3 ins).

Luas is operated by [[Transdev]], under tender from [[Transport Infrastructure Ireland]] (TII). (Prior to the later RPA merger with the National Roads Authority to form TII, the tender was originally under the defunct Railway Procurement Agency jurisdiction). The Luas was a major part of the [[National Transport Authority (Ireland)|National Transport Authority]]'s strategy (2000–2016).<ref name="DTOStrategy2001">{{Cite web |date=November 2001 |title=A Platform for Change (Final Report) An integrated transportation strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2000 to 2016 |url=http://www.dto.ie/platform1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119033350/http://www.dto.ie/platform1.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2007 |access-date=10 December 2006 |publisher=Dublin Transportation Office}}</ref> Four extensions to the initial Luas lines have been completed. Construction of a {{convert|6|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=off|spell=in|adj=on}} extension of the Green line through the north city centre to [[Broombridge railway station|Broombridge]], which linked both Green and Red lines, began in June 2013 and opened to passengers in December 2017. This is the extension route previously known officially as BXD.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2016 |title=Luas Cross City Project End of Year Review 2016 |url=http://www.luascrosscity.ie/news/luas-cross-city-project-end-of-year-review-2016/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165933/http://www.luascrosscity.ie/news/luas-cross-city-project-end-of-year-review-2016/ |archive-date=27 March 2017 |access-date=27 March 2017 |website=[[Luas Cross City]]}}</ref>

The system, when complete, will comprise of three lines:

* Line A: [[Tallaght]] to Abbey Street

* Line B: [[St. Stephen's Green]] to Sandyford Industrial Estate

* Line C: Abbey Street to [[Connolly Station]]

==History==

Lines A runs both north and south of the [[River Liffey|Liffey]] whilst Line C is entirely north of the river, both lines are commonly referred to as the Red Line. The Line B, in the [[Southside (Dublin)|Southside]], is referred to as the Green Line. The Red Line and Green Line are not connected to each other, with a fifteen minute walk between the two closest points. The services will run on a ten minute basis, with a service every five minutes during on-peak times.

The idea for a new tram or light rail system for the city of Dublin was first suggested, in the 1990s, by a Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI) report,<ref name="RPA_Luas_Background">{{Cite web |title=Luas background |url=http://www.rpa.ie/luas/about_luas/background |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228163348/http://www.rpa.ie/luas/about_luas/background |archive-date=28 February 2008 |access-date=5 April 2008 |publisher=Railway Procurement Agency}}</ref> which referenced the original [[Dublin tramways]], once running over {{convert|60|km|mi}} and reaching most parts of the city. Following this report [[CIÉ|Córas Iompair Éireann]] (CIÉ), the state-owned public transport operator in Ireland, was asked to study the different options. They recommended two phases for the construction of a tram <!--light rail--> system:

*Phase 1: Tallaght to Dundrum/Balally via the City Centre

Services commenced on the Green Line on Wednesday 30th June 2004, with free fares to all for the first five days of operation. The Red Line opened on 28th September 2004, almost a month or so behind schedule. It remains to be seen whether the Luas will prove effective in combating Dublin's [[traffic congestion]] problems.

*Phase 2: Ballymun to the City Centre and Dundrum/Balally to Sandyford.

The Transport Act, 1996 created a legal framework for CIÉ to build a tram <!--light rail--> system and in May 1997 the company applied for a Light Railway Order to construct the first phase, as well as the Dundrum/Balally to Sandyford part of phase 2.

The two separate lines (red and green) are, in effect, wholly separate tram systems &ndash; with separate depots and facilities, and fixed allocations of trams (there is no simple method to transfer trams between the two lines).

An inquiry started in July 1997, but was put on hold to investigate the possibility of underground sections in the city centre. In May 1998 the government decided to build two lines, amending the plans. The first was to run from Tallaght to Connolly Station, while the second would run from Sandyford Industrial Estate to Dublin Airport, through the city centre and Ballymun. Part of the second was to be underground through the city centre.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} In promotional content from the mid-1990s, journey time from Tallaght to the city centre was predicted to take 30 minutes.<ref name="1996Tallaght">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYegMOpPdU&t=13s |title=Tallaght - A Living Town. South Dublin County Council: Tallaght Living Heritage Project |date=1996-01-01 |type=Video |publisher=Tallaght Artsquad ([[South Dublin County Council]]) |place=Dublin |people=Larkin, Daragh}}</ref>{{rp|26:35}}

The trams are sleek, and silver and all look identical from a distance. But in fact, have sligthly different dimensions on each line: Red Lines are shorter, and have a different car width from the Green Lines. This means that Red Line trams can be operated on the Green Line, but not vice-versa. The Red Line trams have a capacity of about 370 people, wheras the Green Line trams have a capacity of about 430.

The responsibility for developing Luas was transferred from CIÉ to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), a separate government agency created in December 2001.<ref name="RPA_Luas_Background" />

==Criticism==

There has been much criticism of the system and its pre-operational organisation. The standard Irish gauge of 5 ft 3 ins (1600 [[mm]]) has not been used &ndash; one theory is that it would be too wide for normal streets. The project exceeded its budget by a sizeable amount, costing over €700 million, and there were many delays throughout its construction. There were significant costs associated with building two entirely separate tram systems at the same time. For instance whereas one depot would ordinarily be used, two were constructed. The system may not be compatible with the proposed [[metro]] system for Dublin. The green line will in any case, have to be upgraded - to continue underground from at least the point at which it terminates ([[St. Stephen's Green]]). The prior section of route is almost entirely an old railway alignment (see [[History of rail transport in Ireland]]) and is of heavy-rail quality.

Construction work began in March 2001 on the Tallaght to Connolly line, as well as the Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green section of the second line, with [[Gio. Ansaldo & C.|Ansaldo]] of Italy and MVM of Australia getting the contract to build the system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2007 |title=O'Rourke awards £196m Luas contract |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2001/0308/13155-luas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122210/https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2001/0308/13155-luas/ |archive-date=9 February 2018 |access-date=8 February 2018 |website=Rte news}}</ref> The St. Stephen's Green to Dublin Airport section was dropped before construction began, as it was decided to serve the area by a [[Dublin Metro|metro]] instead. The contract to maintain and operate the system was awarded to [[Veolia Transport|Connex]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2002 |title=Connex wins Dublin deal |work=[[The Railway Magazine]] |page=80 |issue=1213}}</ref><ref>Connex beats First to run Dublin's trams from 2003 ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 435 15 May 2002 page 11</ref><ref name="RPA_Luas_Homepage">{{Cite web |title=Luas home page |url=http://www.rpa.ie/luas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312173217/http://www.rpa.ie/luas |archive-date=12 March 2008 |access-date=4 April 2008 |publisher=Railway Procurement Agency}}</ref>

There was considerable disruption to traffic during construction work. Businesses also suffered immensely because of the disruption, and visitors to the city have been inconvenienced. However, the Green line (Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green) has already proven extremely popular, bringing many more visitors into the city centre, and carrying a reported 700,000 passengers in its first month of operation.

The development of Luas Red Line was facilitated by [[European Union]] funding of €82.5&nbsp;million under the [[European Regional Development Fund]],<ref name="RPA_Luas_Homepage" /> and part of the cost of some line extensions (e.g. over 50% of Line B1 to Cherrywood) was raised though levies on development in areas close to the projected route.<ref name="IRJ_Nov2006" />

Within minutes of starting service, the Luas had collided with a car on Harcourt Street, near-collisions were an occasional problem, as of August 2004. A second collision with a car was reported on the red line at the end of August 2004, which at the time was undergoing final testing prior to the public launch due at the end of September 2004. September 2004 also witnessed the first collision between two Luas trams at the crossover at the St. Stephens Green terminus.

===Launch===

Derailments are not uncommon - two having been reported on the Green line in the two months since opening, as of August 2004.

The original launch date for Luas was to be 2003, but delays in construction saw this date pushed back by a year. An advertising campaign took place to inform the public of the development of the system, while construction was taking place. Construction finished in February 2004 and a period of testing and driver training began. 30 June 2004 was decided on as the official launch date of the Green Line.<ref>After 55 years, trams return to Dublin streets ''Rail'' issue 492 7 July 2004 page 14</ref> The first tram went into service for the general public at 3&nbsp;p.m. Several days of free travel and a family fun weekend took place to launch the system. The Red Line opened on 26 September 2004, with six days of free travel for the general public.<ref name="RPA_Luas_Background" />

===2004 to present===

The price of tickets has also been criticised, with a minimum fare of €1.30 being charged for an adult single journey at off-peak times within a single zone, rising during peak hours. There is a greater level of ticket checking than on the DART or Dublin Bus, making fare evasion more difficult but also increasing inconvenience for passengers who must more frequently pull out their ticket.

By November 2006, over 50&nbsp;million journeys had been made on the system.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2006 |title=50 million journeys made on Luas |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1108/luas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912070702/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1108/luas.html |archive-date=12 September 2007 |access-date=10 December 2006 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> Around 90,000 Luas trips are made each day. In 2007, 28.4&nbsp;million journeys were made; there were 27.4&nbsp;million journeys in 2008<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 September 2009 |title=Almost 1m fewer Luas journeys in 2008 |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1230/luas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025102520/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1230/luas.html |archive-date=25 October 2012 |access-date=27 May 2010 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> and 25.4&nbsp;million journeys in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 May 2010 |title=Luas numbers fell 8% last year |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0524/rpa-business.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026114559/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0524/rpa-business.html |archive-date=26 October 2012 |access-date=15 October 2010 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> To date, the busiest day on Luas was Friday, 21 December 2007 when 145,000 passenger journeys were recorded.

Luas operates without a state [[subsidy]]. The service recorded a surplus of €985,000 (€680,000 in 2004) – an achievement well ahead of an anticipated deficit of €2.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Annual Report |url=http://www.rpa.ie/rpa/about_us/annual_reports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017134837/http://www.rpa.ie/rpa/about_us/annual_reports |archive-date=17 October 2006 |access-date=10 December 2006 |publisher=Railway Procurement Agency}}</ref>

On Tuesday, 8 December 2009 the Red Line C1 Connolly to Docklands extension opened.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2009 |title=Luas extended to Docklands |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1208/luas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214132131/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1208/luas.html |archive-date=14 December 2009 |access-date=8 February 2018 |website=Rte}}</ref> There are four stops: George's Dock, Mayor Square-[[National College of Ireland|NCI]], [[Spencer Dock]] (serving the new [[Docklands railway station]], approximately {{convert|350|m|ftin}} away) and terminating in [[Point Village]], opposite the [[3Arena (Dublin)|3Arena]], this extension however bypasses Connolly. Construction started at the beginning of June 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Luas |url=http://www.rpa.ie/en/luas_lines/Pages/HistoryofLuas.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231075637/http://www.rpa.ie/en/luas_lines/Pages/HistoryofLuas.aspx |archive-date=31 December 2014 |access-date=30 December 2014 |publisher=Railway Procurement Agency}}</ref> Test runs began on the line in September 2009 before the opening.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Breda Heffernan |last2=Stephen O'Farrell |date=13 September 2009 |title=New Luas section is right on track as it passes its first test |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/new-luas-section-is-right-on-track-as-it-passes-its-first-test-1885641.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915182152/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/new-luas-section-is-right-on-track-as-it-passes-its-first-test-1885641.html |archive-date=15 September 2009 |access-date=18 September 2009 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref>

On 16 October 2010, the B1 extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood opened.

====Luas Cross City====

{{Luas Line BXD|collapse=yes}}

In June 2010, plans to join the two Luas tracks were finalised.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-06-22 |title=Plans to link Luas lines finalised |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0622/breaking21.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021081214/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0622/breaking21.html |archive-date=21 October 2012 |access-date=20 February 2020 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> On 20 May 2011 Dublin City Council made submissions to [[An Bord Pleanála]]'s Oral Hearing into Line BXD stating that the Planning Authority had a serious area of concern with the overhead conductor system in the historical city centre asking for a wire-free zone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2012 |title=Transport for Dublin – News – Luas Line BXD Oral Hearing – May 2011 |url=http://www.transportfordublin.ie/news/luas-line-bxd-oral-hearing-may-2011/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203215617/http://www.transportfordublin.ie/news/luas-line-bxd-oral-hearing-may-2011/ |archive-date=3 February 2012 |publisher=[[TransportForIreland.ie]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 2011 |title=Luas Broombridge – Oral Hearing (transcript) |url=http://www.transportfordublin.ie/documents/planning_evidence_dick.docx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119220354/http://www.transportfordublin.ie/documents/planning_evidence_dick.docx |archive-date=19 January 2012 |publisher=Transport for Dublin |format=docx}}</ref>

[[File:Luas施工.jpg|thumb|Dominick stop construction site on Luas Cross City line, taken in Dominick Street Lower]]

Luas Cross City is an extension of the Green Line which links with the Red Line, and continues northwards to Broombridge railway station in North Dublin (interchange with Iarnród Éireann station). The extension began at the existing [[St Stephen's Green station|St Stephen's Green]] Green Line stop. Construction started in June 2013, with services beginning in December 2017.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=3 August 2012 |title=Green light given to Luas link-up, first passengers 2017 |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0803/green-light-given-to-luas-link-up.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805170408/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0803/green-light-given-to-luas-link-up.html |archive-date=5 August 2012 |access-date=5 August 2012 |work=RTÉ}}</ref>

*'''Line BX (includes Line D to Broombridge)''' – City Centre link for Red and Green Lines. The RPA started public consultation on the route in December 2005. In March 2007 the preferred route was announced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home – Transport Infrastructure Ireland - |url=http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/luas_city_centre/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615142150/http://www.rpa.ie/en/projects/luas_city_centre/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> The route runs from St Stephen's Green to College Green where the line changes from a double track to single track. From here it runs north through Westmoreland Street, over [[O'Connell Bridge]] and along the west side of O'Connell Street to [[Cathal Brugha Street]]. It then turns east into Cathal Brugha Street and turns south to run along Marlborough Street, across the River Liffey on the [[Rosie Hackett Bridge]], continues along Hawkins Street and College Street and joins up with the double-track section of the line at College Green. 2012 was the original completion date given in the Transport 21 plans, but construction only started in 2013. The completion date, along with the commencement of passenger services, was December 2017. The RPA applied for a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála for a combined Line D / Line BX Luas Line that runs from St Stephen's Green to Broombridge via the city centre and Broadstone / Grangegorman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2008 |title=Status & present timeline for Metro North & West & Luas lines F & BX & interconnector (ref no:Status & present timeline for Metro North & West & Luas lines F & BX & interconnector) |url=http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=11140&lang=ENG&loc=2262 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094651/http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=11140&lang=ENG&loc=2262 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |access-date=7 March 2009 |website=Press Centre: Parliamentary Questions 2008 |publisher=Department of Transport}}</ref>

*'''Line D''' – City Centre to [[Liffey Junction]]. This serves [[Grangegorman]], the site of the new [[Technological University Dublin|TU Dublin]] campus. This line is linked with the [[Maynooth]] line.

On 10 November 2011, the government announced in its 2012–16 Infrastructure and Capital Investment plan that the project to link the Red and Green lines, known as '''BXD''', was to proceed. No other new lines or extensions were being funded.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2011 |title=Metro North, DART underground plans shelved |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1110/budget_capital.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121130555/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1110/budget_capital.html |archive-date=21 January 2012 |access-date=19 November 2011 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012–16 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/72243343/Infrastructure-and-Capital-Investment-2012-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017222337/https://www.scribd.com/doc/72243343/Infrastructure-and-Capital-Investment-2012-16 |archive-date=17 October 2014 |access-date=5 December 2011 |publisher=Department of Public Expenditure and Reform}}</ref> Construction work for the new Rosie Hackett bridge across the [[River Liffey]] (connecting Marlborough St and Hawkins St) began in April 2012, on which the southbound Luas BXD track was laid.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 April 2012 |title=Do we need €15m Liffey bridge? |url=http://www.herald.ie/news/do-we-need-15m-liffey-bridge-3094902.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704082407/http://www.herald.ie/news/do-we-need-15m-liffey-bridge-3094902.html |archive-date=4 July 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012 |work=[[Evening Herald]]}}</ref> A Railway Order was granted by An Bord Pleanála for Luas BXD line on 3 August 2012. The project was subsequently branded as '''Luas Cross City'''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Varadkar to sign contracts for Luas Cross-City line |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/varadkar-to-sign-contracts-for-luas-cross-city-line-594581.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016123648/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/varadkar-to-sign-contracts-for-luas-cross-city-line-594581.html |archive-date=16 October 2013 |access-date=27 May 2013 |work=[[Irish Examiner]]}}</ref> Cross City opened to passengers on 9 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2017 |title=New Luas Cross City Line opens to passengers on December 9 |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-luas-cross-city-line-opens-to-passengers-on-december-9-813384.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112010155/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-luas-cross-city-line-opens-to-passengers-on-december-9-813384.html |archive-date=12 November 2017 |access-date=12 November 2017 |website=www.breakingnews.ie |publisher=BreakingNews}}</ref><ref name="opened">{{Cite web |date=9 December 2017 |title=Taoiseach launches new Luas Cross City service in Dublin |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2017/1209/926142-luas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209115201/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2017/1209/926142-luas/ |archive-date=9 December 2017 |access-date=9 December 2017 |publisher=RTÉ}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

{{Luas-Red Line|collapse=yes}}

{{Luas-Green Line|collapse=yes}}

[[File:Bridge, Nine Arches.jpg|thumb|The [[Nine Arches Bridge]] on the Green Line at Milltown]]

===Stops and lines===

The network currently comprises two lines:

# '''[[Red Line (Luas)|Red Line]]''' – [[The Point Luas stop|The Point]] or [[Dublin Connolly railway station|Connolly]] to [[Saggart Luas stop|Saggart]] or [[Tallaght Luas stop|Tallaght]] (each route is approximately {{convert|20.7|km|mi}} long, but the total track length is longer since the [[Belgard Luas stop|Belgard]]-Tallaght and Belgard-Saggart sections are separate parts of the Red Line)

# '''[[Green Line (Luas)|Green Line]]''' – [[Broombridge railway station|Broombridge]] via [[Sandyford Luas stop|Sandyford]] to [[Brides Glen Luas stop|Bride's Glen]], {{convert|24.5|km|mi}}

The Red Line runs east–west through Dublin's [[Northside (Dublin)|Northside]], then crosses the [[River Liffey]] and travels southwest to the heavily populated suburb of Tallaght, and then on through the [[Citywest]] campus to terminate at Saggart. It was planned, designed and constructed in two separate stages:{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

* Line A: Tallaght to O'Connell Street

* Line C: O'Connell Street to Connolly Station

This was followed by two extensions:{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

* Line C1 from Connolly to The Point, which opened in December 2009

* Line A1, the spur from Belgard to Saggart, which opened in July 2011

On the [[Southside (Dublin)|south side]] of Dublin city, the Green Line mostly follows the route of the old [[Harcourt Street railway line]], which was reserved for possible reuse when it closed in [[1958 in Ireland|1958]], although some diversions have been made. It was known internally as Line B during planning and construction, and has also had several extensions:{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

* Line B was originally from Sandyford to St Stephen's Green.

* Line B1 is the extension from Sandyford to Bride's Glen which opened in July 2010.

* Line BX is the extension from St Stephen's Green to connect with the Red Line which opened in December 2017.

* Line D extends Line BX to Broombridge and opened simultaneously with Line BX in December 2017.

* Line B2 is a proposed extension from Bride's Glen to Bray.

The cost of building the original Red and Green Lines was €728m.

It was envisaged in the original plans that the Green Line would meet the Red Line at O'Connell Street. However, two separate unconnected lines were built, leaving a {{Cvt|1.1|km}} (10–15 minute walk) – through [[O'Connell Street]], [[Westmoreland Street]], [[College Green, Dublin|College Green]] and [[Grafton Street]] – between the two lines. Plans to link the lines were announced with the proposed building of the BX Line under Transport 21: this was opened to passengers on 9 December 2017.<ref name=":0" /> There are 32 stops on the Red Line and 35 (plus two extra unopened stops surrounding Carrickmines) on the Green Line.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

A third line to Lucan (Line F) was planned. It was planned to start in the city centre and travel north west to Lucan. However, as of April 2024, no information is available on any plans to progress this line.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

===Track and rolling stock===

[[File:都柏林轻轨桑迪福德车场.jpg|thumb|The Luas Park and a [[Junction (rail)|junction]] at Sandyford]]

The system operates on a {{750 V DC}} overhead power supply. The international [[Standard-gauge railway|standard]] [[track gauge]] of {{track gauge|sg}} is used, rather than the Irish {{track gauge|1600mm|lk=on}}.<ref name="Spec">{{Cite web |title=Dublin Luas Light Rail Network – Specifications |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/dublin/specs.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607130919/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/dublin/specs.html |archive-date=7 June 2011 |access-date=5 April 2008 |website=Railway-Technology.com}}</ref>

The silver [[Alstom Citadis]] trams, manufactured in [[La Rochelle]], France, reach a top speed of {{Cvt|70|km/h}} on off-street sections, but travel at a slower speed on-street where conflicts with other vehicles and pedestrians can occur. The 26 initial Red Line '3000' Class trams were {{convert|30|m|ftin|adj=mid}} long Citadis 301 configurations with a capacity of 256. The 14 initial Green Line '4000 Class' trams, each {{convert|40|m|ftin|adj=mid}} long Citadis 401 configurations, have a capacity of 358 including two wheelchairs.<ref name="Spec" /> Starting in 2007, all the Red line trams were upgraded to {{convert|40|m|ftin}} by inserting two more articulated sections, with the last one converted by June 2008.<ref name="Transport21_2007">{{Cite web |last=Department of Transport |author-link=Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport |date=5 March 2008 |title=Transport 21 Annual Report 2007 |url=http://www.transport21.ie/PROGRESS_REPORTS/upload/File/NS114%20dept.%20of%20Transport_%20transport21_%20report_08_v5.pdf |access-date=4 April 2008 |pages=16–17}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Both configurations of tramcars are fully compatible with both the Red and the Green Lines.

26 new 43-metre Citadis 402 trams, numbered as the '5000 Class', were ordered for delivery in early 2009. These are 100% low-floor configuration and solely operate on the Green Line, with the 4000 Class trams cascaded to the Red Line after the entire 5000 Class had been introduced.<ref name="Trams and Depots">{{Cite web |title=Trams and Depots |url=https://www.tii.ie/public-transport/luas/trams-and-depots/ |publisher=Transport Infrastructure Ireland}}</ref>

7, {{convert|55|m|ftin|adj=mid}} Citadis 502 variants were procured for use on the St. Stephen's Green – Broombridge line. They were brought into service between January and June 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 2014 |title=Urban Rail News In Brief |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/urban-rail-news-in-brief-april-2014.html?sword_list%5B%5D=luas&no_cache=1 |url-status=live |journal=[[Railway Gazette International]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024000134/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/urban-rail-news-in-brief-april-2014.html?sword_list%5B%5D=luas&no_cache=1 |archive-date=24 October 2014 |access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> These are numbered as members of the 5000 Class. Between 2019 and 2021,<ref name="Trams and Depots" /> all existing 5000 Class units of the Citadis 402 standard have been lengthened to match the Citadis 502 standard with minor differences.<ref name="Luas Operations and Maintenance Contract">{{Cite web |last=National Transport Authority |title=Luas Operations and Maintenance Contract |url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Schedules-to-2019-Luas-OM-Contract-Website.docx.pdf |pages=124–125}}</ref> 8 further new 502 units were ordered for delivery during 2020, with the first of those entering service in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas Green Line trams are getting bigger! |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/bdd681-luas-green-line-trams-are-getting-bigger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721105255/https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/bdd681-luas-green-line-trams-are-getting-bigger/ |archive-date=21 July 2020 |access-date=21 July 2020 |website=www.gov.ie}}</ref>

In other aspects, the two lines are identical except that the inter-axis width between the tracks on the Green Line is slightly wider than on the Red Line. The construction planning for the Green Line ensures a distance of track centres at {{convert|3400|mm|ftin|frac=8}} including a {{convert|400|mm|in|frac=8}} extra for the kinematic envelope of metro trains.<ref name="luasproject">{{Cite web |last=Tim Paul |title=Luas Dublin Light Rail System |url=http://igi.ie/assets/files/Breaking%20Ground/Tim_Paul.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913165532/http://igi.ie/assets/files/Breaking%20Ground/Tim_Paul.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2016 |access-date=5 September 2016}}</ref> This does not relate to the track gauge of {{RailGauge|1435mm}}, which is identical on both lines. This will allow wider [[rapid transit|metro]] trains be run on the same tracks if a proposed upgrade to full metro service is implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas Line B1 – Sandyford to Cherrywood |url=http://www.transport21.ie/Projects/Metro_-_Luas/Luas_Line_B1_-_Sandyford_to_Cherrywood.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017063420/http://www.transport21.ie/Projects/Metro_-_Luas/Luas_Line_B1_-_Sandyford_to_Cherrywood.html |archive-date=17 October 2008 |access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref> This is possible because the route uses an old railway line and as such has few interactions with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The Railway Procurement Agency has stated (November 2006) that "We still envisage conversion of almost all Luas lines to light metro standard in the long-term".<ref name="IRJ_Nov2006">{{Cite journal |date=November 2006 |title=Dublin Plans For LRT Expansion |url=http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1106/index.php?startid=6 |url-status=live |journal=[[International Railway Journal]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803232624/http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1106/index.php?startid=6 |archive-date=3 August 2009 |access-date=5 April 2008}}</ref> Platform length also varies between lines, with the original {{convert|40|m|ftin|adj=mid}} platforms lengthened to {{convert|55|m|ftin}} on the Green Line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LUAS Green Line Platform Extensions |url=https://www.siac.ie/luas-green-line-platform-extensions.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716101449/https://www.siac.ie/luas-green-line-platform-extensions.html |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=2020-07-21 |website=SIAC}}</ref>

The main engineering structures on the Green Line at present are Milltown Viaduct, also known as The Nine Arches, a large stone viaduct dating from 1854, and the [[William Dargan Bridge]], a large [[cable-stayed bridge]] at Taney Cross, near [[Dundrum, Dublin|Dundrum]] town centre.

==Travel on Luas==

===Ticketing===

[[File:Stillorgan LUAS Stop.JPG|thumb|[[Stillorgan Luas stop]] with the ticket machine and CCTV warning]]

Luas tickets are purple in colour and credit card sized. They bear a [[magnetic stripe]] on the back although this is not used on Luas. Uniquely among Dublin's public transport, tickets are not checked upon boarding trams; instead, a [[proof-of-payment]] system is used.

Ticket machines operate at every Luas stop and these are the only source of single-journey and return tickets. They also sell 1-day, 7-day and 30-day tickets, valid in either some or all the fare zones, for adults, children and students. Combi tickets valid on Dublin Bus and Luas are no longer on general sale, but can be purchased as commuter tickets via the "Taxsaver" scheme,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monthly Dublin City Bus & Luas - www.taxsaver.ie |url=https://www.taxsaver.ie/Ticket-Types/Ticket-Validity/Monthly-Bus--Luas1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820084740/https://www.taxsaver.ie/Ticket-Types/Ticket-Validity/Monthly-Bus--Luas1/ |archive-date=20 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |website=www.taxsaver.ie}}</ref> as can various other combinations of bus, Luas, and [[Iarnród Éireann]] commuter train service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Tickets - www.taxsaver.ie |url=https://www.taxsaver.ie/Ticket-Types/Annual-Tickets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822032217/https://www.taxsaver.ie/Ticket-Types/Annual-Tickets/ |archive-date=22 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=www.taxsaver.ie}}</ref> Certain ticket combinations are not possible (for example a one-day student ticket), and tickets can only be valid from the stop at which they are purchased and must commence their validity within 90 minutes, valid until a specific time shown on the card. Certain tickets require the user to hold an ID card and write the number on the ticket, to prevent the ticket from being transferred to another person. Ticket machines accept card payments (by [[American Express]], [[MasterCard]], or [[Visa card|Visa]]) and have a weekly limit of €150 (upper limit changed from €50 per transaction to €150 per week in January 2012 after upgrading all POS terminals to have a PIN keypad).<ref>Information displayed on any ticketing machine. Information on [http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html#faq14 FAQ on TVM] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103175103/http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |date=3 January 2012 }} is outdated. Checked: 1 March 2012</ref> Formerly €5 was the minimum amount which could be paid via card, but this limit has since been removed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No minimum spend for transactions on Debit/Credit Cards at Luas Ticket Machines. We removed the limit! |url=https://twitter.com/Luas/status/844458567772127232 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422063351/https://twitter.com/Luas/status/844458567772127232 |archive-date=22 April 2017 |access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> Student tickets can be loaded to a Student Leap card, issued upon verification of student status.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas &#124; Student Tickets |url=https://luas.ie/student-tickets.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813090721/https://luas.ie/student-tickets.html |archive-date=13 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref> No other form of student identification is accepted on Luas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas &#124; 1, 7 & 30 Day Tickets |url=https://luas.ie/1-7-30-day-tickets.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813111921/https://luas.ie/1-7-30-day-tickets.html |archive-date=13 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref>

Tickets cannot be purchased on board the trams. Passengers encountered by a ticket inspector and not in possession of a valid ticket or validated Leap card are issued a fine (referred to as a standard fare) of €100, reduced to €45 for prompt payment. Non-payment within 28 days may result in prosecution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas &#124; Standard Fare Appeal Information |url=https://luas.ie/sfn-appealinfo.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813065953/https://luas.ie/sfn-appealinfo.html |archive-date=13 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref>

The lines are divided into 10 zones, five for the green line and four for the red, plus a shared central zone. Most passengers use a Leap card, for which travel within a single zone is charged as a "short journey", with any longer trips charged at a flat fare for 90-minutes travel, including transfers onto bus and train services in the Dublin zone. Paper single and return tickets charge varying fares depending on the number of zones crossed. When the network opened, it was necessary to walk some distance or take another form of transport to connect between the two lines, but nowadays there is a short walking connection between O'Connell - GPO or Marlborough Street on the green line and Abbey Street on the red line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas &#124; Map |url=https://luas.ie/map/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812125150/https://luas.ie/map/ |archive-date=12 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref>

===Smartcard===

[[File:Luas Red Line trams in Dublin Northside.jpg|thumbnail|Luas on the [[Northside, Dublin|Northside]]]]

In March 2005, a [[smartcard]] for Luas was launched. The smartcard was phased out following launch of the integrated [[Leap Card]] which is further detailed below. The final day of Luas Smartcard operations was on 30 September 2014. The Luas smartcard allowed travellers to pay for travel on the Luas network. Credit was pre-loaded onto the smartcard at ticket machines by cash, debit card or credit card, with a minimum top-up of €5 and a maximum credit on the card of €100, and the customer had to validate the card using readers on the platform before boarding the tram and then again after exiting the tram. This is still referred to as 'tag-on' and 'tag-off' on the current Leap Card system.

A smartcard could be purchased at a Luas ticket agent or online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas Smart Card |url=http://luassmartcard.luas.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407211600/http://luassmartcard.luas.ie/ |archive-date=7 April 2005}}</ref> The card cost €10, which included a €3 non-refundable charge for the card, €3 of credit and €4 for a fully refundable 'reserve fund' which allowed travel even if there was insufficient credit on the card for the journey. The card had to be topped up before another journey could be taken.

Smartcard fares were slightly cheaper than standard single and return fares from ticket machines. For example, a journey within a single zone cost €1.25 with the card, compared to €1.50 (€1.60 during peak time) single with a paper ticket, or €2.80 return. Daily, 7-day and 30-day tickets generally worked out cheaper, unless used only rarely. Luas smartcards were unable to store multiple-journey tickets and these tickets were issued on paper only until May 2014, since all tickets have been loaded onto the new Leap Cards.

Until January 2012 there were three different smart-card systems in Dublin: the Luas smart-card, the [[Dublin Bus]] prepaid Smartcard system for day-cards or longer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prepaid Smartcard |url=http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Prepaid-Smartcard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611165605/http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Prepaid-Smartcard/ |archive-date=11 June 2009 |access-date=5 June 2009 |publisher=Dublin Bus}}</ref> and the smart-card for commuter trains and the [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit|DART]] which is -as the Luas card- a per journey tag on/off card but not compatible with Luas cards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Q9: I already have a smart card – What is going to happen? |url=http://www.rpa.ie/en/its/Pages/ITSFAqs.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615145314/http://www.rpa.ie/en/its/Pages/ITSFAqs.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2011 |access-date=5 June 2009 |publisher=Rail Procurement Agency}}</ref>

The "Leap Card" smartcard has functionality that it caps the daily and weekly spend to ensure Leap Card holders do not pay more than they would have had they bought day, weekly, or monthly tickets. This functionality had been enabled on Luas and DART services. As of 2017, the National Transport Authority reported the number of Leap Card users was 2.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Big leap in travel cards but users still overpaying |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/big-leap-in-travel-cards-but-users-still-overpaying-29868522.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228014545/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/big-leap-in-travel-cards-but-users-still-overpaying-29868522.html |archive-date=28 December 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref>

===Free travel===

Irish residents receiving the following Social Welfare payments are provided with a Public Services Card with yellow "FT" in the top right-hand corner, which functions as a smart card in the same way as a Leap Card, but allows free travel:

* Pension (senior citizens over 66)

* Disability Allowance (persons with a disabling medical condition lasting longer than a year approved by a [[general practitioner]], a departmental medical officer or a departmental welfare officer)

* Carers Allowance

Certain claimants may also receive free travel for a spouse or for any adult companion.

Visitors to Ireland are not in-scope of the free travel scheme.

The free travel system was created by Ministerial Order (not an Act of the [[Oireachtas]] as with many such schemes) by then Minister for Health, Charles J Haughey in the late 1960s and is considered a '[[third rail (politics)|third rail]]' politically.

===Hours of operation and frequency===

[[File:Luas tram sign.jpg|thumb|Electronic sign at a Luas stop indicating the minutes until the next tram.]]

Trams operate from 05:30 to 00:30 Monday to Friday. On Saturday services run from 06:30 to 00:30, while on Sundays it is only from 07:00 to 23:30. Public holidays are the same as Sundays, except trams run until 00:30. Services run at regular intervals, from every 4–5 minutes during peak times to every 15 minutes late at night.

During the Christmas season (from early December to the last weekend before Christmas), a night service runs on Luas during Friday and Saturday nights (as well as on New Year's Eve), with the last trams departing the city centre at 03:30. However, fares are priced at a premium of €5 single (€4 on Leap Cards).

====Night Luas====

In 2016 while Dublin Bus was considering plans for the rolling out of its [[Night service (public transport)|24-hour bus service]], a spokesperson for Transdev revealed that the company had looked at extending the Christmastime 'Night Luas' to operate every weekend of the year, but that "realistically, the demand for services is just not there [and that] the service just wouldn’t be financially viable."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neylon |first=Laoise |date=2016-12-21 |title=Is It Time Dublin Had 24-Hour Public Transport? |url=https://dublininquirer.com/2016/12/21/is-it-time-dublin-had-24-hour-public-transport |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Dublin Inquirer |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2022, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan asked the National Transport Authority to again re-examine the prospect of running Luas services on a 24-hour basis.<ref name="NeilF">{{Cite web |last=Fetherstonhaugh |first=Neil |date=2022-08-04 |title=OFF THE RAILS: NTA rules out late-night Luas as pressure mounts for 24-hour service |url=https://www.sundayworld.com/news/irish-news/nta-rules-out-late-night-luas-as-pressure-mounts-for-24-hour-service/336368944.html |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=[[The Sunday World]] |language=en}}</ref> The NTA responded by saying that a significant extension of the tram system was "not something that should be progressed at this point" noting that essential maintenance on the tram system - such as on its overhead cable systems, overhead line equipment and rail works - can only be carried out when all trams are out of service.<ref name = NeilF/> The Authority pointed to its increased night bus services which have been coming online in recent years arguing that the delivery of 24-hour services across the bus network "is more feasible".<ref name = NeilF/> [[Fine Gael]] TD [[Neale Richmond]] pointed out that as well as more [[Dublin Bus#24-hour services|24-hour Dublin Bus services]], late-night Luas services are "badly needed [..] given the persisting issues with access to taxis in Dublin city centre". "This is becoming a public safety issue with many people being forced to walk home, often alone, late at night as public transport is not operating and taxis are hard to come by," he added.<ref name = NeilF/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Finn |first=Christina |date=2022-08-04 |title=Late-night Luas service ruled out, as hours needed for maintenance |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/no-late-night-luas-5831850-Aug2022/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hennessy |first=Michelle |date=2022-06-01 |title='I was afraid, walking 25 minutes alone': Dubliners say shortage of taxis posing safety risks |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/taxis-dublin-5778873-Jun2022/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Accessibility===

[[File:Citadis dublin.jpg|thumb|Luas tram crossing the Liffey (a yellow stripe around the trams has since been added to improve visibility)]]

The low floors and wide spaces of the Citadis trams mean that wheelchair users can easily board. All stops have also been designed with ramps, to allow easy access. Several have lifts, such as Kilmacud and [[Dundrum, Dublin|Dundrum]] on the Green Line, while Connolly Station has escalators that connect the Luas stop to the main station building. The website for Luas also has an accessibility newsletter.

===Safety===

[[File:Luassign.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Sign warning of Luas track ahead]]

Before Luas was launched, a Safety Awareness Day was held in Dublin city centre. Thousands of reflective armbands were distributed to pedestrians and cyclists, in order to ensure their visibility for tram drivers. This policy seems to have worked as Luas has been described as being "one of the safest transport systems in the world".<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 June 2007 |title=Luas 'one world's safest transport systems' |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhkfmhojeycw/rss2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200927/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhkfmhojeycw/rss2/ |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=2 December 2007 |work=[[BreakingNews.ie]]}}</ref> Both trams and stops are monitored using CCTV 24 hours a day from the central control room, located in the Red Cow Depot.<ref name="Luas_FAQs">{{Cite web |title=Luas – Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103175103/http://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |archive-date=3 January 2012 |access-date=30 December 2013 |publisher=Luas}}</ref>

Before Luas was launched, it was feared that the tram system would lead to a high number of fatal accidents. As of 2022, however, there have been approximately 10 fatalities. There have been many occurrences of cars striking trams, mainly caused by motorists breaking red lights. On 16 September 2009, a Luas collided with a Dublin Bus at the O'Connell Street-Abbey Street Junction. In the collision, 22 people were injured, three of them seriously, including the tram driver. Early investigations suggested that the bus had the green light to move, and that the Luas must have had technical problems.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul Melia |date=30 May 2006 |title=Luas safety record 'among best in EU' |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/luas-safety-record-among-best-in-eu-100517.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520035615/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/luas-safety-record-among-best-in-eu-100517.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 |access-date=19 May 2008 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> The Luas driver was later charged with dangerous driving, causing harm and operating a tram in a manner which posed risk to others. He was subsequently acquitted of dangerous conduct by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2012 |title=Luas driver acquitted over 2009 crash with bus |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0426/318626-luas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231070237/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0426/318626-luas/ |archive-date=31 December 2014 |access-date=30 December 2014 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref>

===Security===

Security on Luas trams, platforms and facilities is provided directly by Transdev.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2016 |title=Luas security reject pay deal, but no strikes on the horizon just yet |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/luas-security-workers-strikes-2783726-May2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225819/https://www.thejournal.ie/luas-security-workers-strikes-2783726-May2016/ |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=[[TheJournal.ie]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 June 2015 |title=€1.5m cost of keeping Luas passengers safe |url=https://www.herald.ie/news/1-5m-cost-of-keeping-luas-passengers-safe-31279122.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225922/https://www.herald.ie/news/1-5m-cost-of-keeping-luas-passengers-safe-31279122.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=[[Herald.ie]]}}</ref> Luas Security Officers patrol the system to counter anti-social or other incidents,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2016 |title=Number of public order incidents on Luas trams drop |url=https://www.newstalk.com/Number-of-public-order-incidents-on-Luas-trams-drop |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028231344/https://www.newstalk.com/Number-of-public-order-incidents-on-Luas-trams-drop |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=NewsTalk}}</ref> and intervene in incidents prior to the arrival of the [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]].{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Luas Security Officers wear tactical uniforms and stab-resistant body vests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2016 |title=Stab vests for Luas security workers 'don't stop needles' as threat of strikes looms |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/stab-vests-for-luas-security-workers-dont-stop-needles-as-threat-of-strikes-looms-34742300.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028230036/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/stab-vests-for-luas-security-workers-dont-stop-needles-as-threat-of-strikes-looms-34742300.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=Independent.ie}}</ref>[[File:Luas tram stop at Abbey Street in 2012.jpg|thumb|Luas tram stop at Abbey Street]]

== Incidents and criticism==

There have been several incidents involving Luas, often leading to its temporary closure. As of September 2022, this included ten fatal incidents, with approximately 540 million passengers carried.<ref>{{Citation |title=Passengers |work=transdevireland.ie |url=http://www.transdevireland.ie/passengers.html |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231200116/http://www.transdevireland.ie/passengers.html |archive-date=31 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 March 2012, a fire in buildings on Benburb Street resulted in Red Line services being suspended in the city centre until 24 March 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Susan |title=Luas Red Line disruption due Dublin city centre fire |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/luas-red-line-disruption-due-to-fire-387739-Mar2012/ |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Luas red line down after fire |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/news/luas-red-line-down-after-fire-28003713.html |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Full Luas red line services resume |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/full-luas-red-line-services-resume-1.705755 |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref> Other fires in buildings adjacent to the Red Line have led to shorter closures from time to time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Gavan |title=Luas Red Line services reopened following city centre fire |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/luas-red-line-services-suspended-following-city-centre-fire-145910-May2011/ |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Luas Red line services disrupted by fire |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/luas-red-line-services-disrupted-by-fire-29582412.html |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Ailbhe |title=Luas services resume after early morning fire near Smithfield along the Red line |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/luas-services-resume-after-early-6401960 |access-date=10 July 2022 |work=[[Irish Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1080209198510686208 |user=Luas |title=No #luas services between Blackhorse and Smithfield due to fire beside the LUAS tracks |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Duffy |first=Muireann |title=Fire on Dublin's Parkgate Street causes delays to traffic and Luas services |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fire-on-dublins-parkgate-street-disrupting-traffic-and-luas-services-1326929.html |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>

On 7 November 2013 a [[flash fire]] occurred on a tram as it approached Busáras stop. There were no injuries and the damage to the Tram was minor. There had been a similar fire in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Investigation Report - Tram fire on approach to Busáras Luas Stop - 7th November 2013 |url=https://www.raiu.ie/assets/files/pdf/tram_fire_on_approach_to_busras_luas_stop_7th_november_2013.pdf |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=raiu.ie/ |publisher=[[Railway Accident Investigation Unit]]}}</ref>

Park and ride charges have also attracted criticism. As of 2022 the cost of parking for a full day is between €2 and €5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas &#124; Car Parking |url=https://luas.ie/car-parking/ |website=[[Luas.ie]]}}</ref> It was described by former government [[Teachta Dála]] and head of the Dáil transport Committee [[Eoin Ryan Jnr|Eoin Ryan]] as "unacceptable for Luas to charge passengers for parking at their Park and Ride facilities on top of ticket fares".<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2004 |title=Row over Luas plan for parking charges |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2004/0609/ireland/kfojkfeysncw/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614132510/http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2004/0609/ireland/kfojkfeysncw/ |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=5 June 2009 |website=[[BreakingNews.ie]]}}</ref> On 8 February 2018 there were traffic delays in south Dublin because the longer 55 metre tram was too long for O'Connell bridge, when it was obstructed by a taxi blocking a junction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilraine |first=John |date=8 February 2018 |title=Luas delays traffic |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2018/0208/939243-luas-dublin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208145302/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2018/0208/939243-luas-dublin/ |archive-date=8 February 2018 |access-date=8 February 2018 |website=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref>

In August 2021, the [[Tweet (social media)|tweet]], "A long-term goal of mine has been to lead a disinformation campaign which claims that the Luas is free until enough people believe it that they have no choice but to give in and make the Luas is free,"<ref name="DistrictMag-202108">{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Dylan |date=8 August 2021 |title=The spiciest memes celebrating Ireland's best free service - The Luas |url=https://districtmagazine.ie/news/the-spiciest-memes-celebrating-irelands-best-free-service-the-luas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820084809/https://districtmagazine.ie/news/the-spiciest-memes-celebrating-irelands-best-free-service-the-luas/ |archive-date=20 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=District Magazine}}</ref> by journalist Carl Kinsella,<ref name="Joe=202108">{{Cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Clara |last2=Kinsella |first2=Carl |date=August 2021 |title=The man behind the wildly viral 'Free Luas' campaign says he just "thought it was funny" |url=https://www.joe.ie/news/luas-free-campaign-728235 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810225049/https://www.joe.ie/news/luas-free-campaign-728235 |archive-date=10 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=JOE.ie |quote=A long-term goal of mine has been to lead a disinformation campaign which claims that the Luas is free until enough people believe it that they have no choice but to give in and make the Luas is free. So if anyone ever asks you, remember: the Luas is free.}}</ref> resulted in a cascade of tweets, [[meme]]s and posters improperly claiming the Luas was free of charge.<ref name="Iexam-202108">{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Martha |date=9 August 2021 |title=Free Luas: Irish Twitter's top moments |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40355732.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820084720/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40355732.html |archive-date=20 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=[[Irish Examiner]]}}</ref> The consequences of the effects of the Irish [[Twitter]] had to be dealt with by Luas' workers,<ref name="Iexam-202108" /> Transdev issuing a statement to confirm that this is not the case and ticketless travellers face a €100 fine.<ref name="Iexam-202108" /><ref name="DubLive-202108">{{Cite web |last=Donohoe |first=Amy |date=7 August 2021 |title=Dublin Twitter users react as people are questioning if the Luas is free |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/luas-free-twitter-dublin-travel-21255125 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210822075731/https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/luas-free-twitter-dublin-travel-21255125 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=[[DublinLive.ie]]}}</ref>

During the [[2023 Dublin riot|2023 Dublin Riot]], a Green Line tram was set alight on O'Connell St, causing "extensive damage to overhead power line" in the process, including on Westmoreland Street. The following day, Red Line services were unable to operate east of Smithfield, and Green Line services north of St. Stephen's Green. The tram was towed back to Broombridge depot in the early afternoon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LUAS operator says damage is significant and impacting services |url=https://www.live95fm.ie/news/live95-news/luas-operator-says-damage-is-significant-and-impacting-services/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Limerick's Live 95 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1728053318696493203 |user=Luas |title=The damaged tram is now being towed back to our depot. Thanks to everyone including the Gardai for their assistance. |author-link=Luas |date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

=== Accidents and deaths ===

In February 2008, a 59-year-old man was struck by a tram at Cookstown Way in Tallaght, sustaining serious head injuries and dying in hospital the following day.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Investigations begin after Luas death |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0225/luas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012084433/http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0225/luas.html |archive-date=12 October 2012 |access-date=18 May 2008 |work=RTÉ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 February 2008 |title=Probe begins into death of man struck by Luas |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/probe-begins-into-death-of-man-struck-by-luas-26426116.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701133614/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/probe-begins-into-death-of-man-struck-by-luas-26426116.html |archive-date=1 July 2017 |access-date=31 March 2016 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> In May 2009, a worker died at Citywest during the construction of the Luas A1 extension to Saggart.<ref name="irishtimes3">{{Cite web |title=Worker killed in accident at Luas site |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0516/1224246701320.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218213818/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0516/1224246701320.html |archive-date=18 February 2011 |access-date=15 December 2019 |website=[[IrishTimes.com]]}}</ref>

In September 2009 a Red Line Luas tram and a double-decker number 16 [[Dublin Bus]] collided at the crossing of Abbey Street and O'Connell Street in central Dublin.<ref name="RTE_2009-09-16">{{Cite news |date=16 September 2009 |title=RTÉ News : 21 hurt as Luas collides with bus in Dublin |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0916/luas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922185625/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0916/luas.html |archive-date=22 September 2009 |access-date=17 September 2009 |work=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]]}}</ref> The front section of the tram was derailed in the incident and the driver's cabin was crushed flat against the left hand side of the bus.<ref name="IT_print_2009-09-17_witnesses">{{Cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Olivia |last2=Hauser |first2=Jenny |date=17 September 2009 |title=Luas Crash – Eyewitness Reports |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0917/1224254724116.html?via=rel |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017170950/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0917/1224254724116.html?via=rel |archive-date=17 October 2012 |access-date=20 February 2020 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> At least 21 people were injured and three were seriously hurt, including the driver of the tram who had to be cut out from the wreckage.<ref name="IT_print_2009-09-17_injured">{{Cite news |last=Duncan |first=Pamela |date=17 September 2009 |title=21 injured as Luas and bus crash in city centre |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0917/1224254721036.html?via=rel |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017171010/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0917/1224254721036.html?via=rel |archive-date=17 October 2012 |access-date=20 February 2020 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref name="acquittal">{{Cite web |date=27 April 2012 |title=Luas driver acquitted over 2009 crash with bus |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0426/318626-luas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231070237/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0426/318626-luas/ |archive-date=31 December 2014 |website=[[RTE.ie]]}}</ref>

In October 2011, a 35-year-old Polish man, was struck and killed by a Red Line tram on [[Steeven's Lane, Dublin|Steeven's Lane]] near [[Dublin Heuston railway station|Heuston Station]].<ref name="TJ.ie_web_2011-10-11_collision">{{Cite news |last=Gavan Reilly |date=11 October 2011 |title=Man, 35, killed after being struck by Luas tram |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/man-35-killed-after-being-struck-by-luas-tram-251412-Oct2011/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205181353/http://www.thejournal.ie/man-35-killed-after-being-struck-by-luas-tram-251412-Oct2011/ |archive-date=5 February 2017 |access-date=11 October 2011 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]]}}</ref> In June 2012, a 32-year-old woman was struck by a Luas tram in [[Inchicore]], after falling onto the tracks at Blackhorse platform as a tram pulled in. She was caught between the platform and tram, and suffered severe head and body trauma. Emergency services managed to free her from under the tram, and the area was cordoned off for a forensic examination. She was rushed to hospital, and died of her injuries on 6 July 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Woman in Luas fall loses fight for life |url=http://www.herald.ie/news/woman-in-luas-fall-loses-fight-for-life-28012214.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630195544/http://www.herald.ie/news/woman-in-luas-fall-loses-fight-for-life-28012214.html |archive-date=30 June 2017 |access-date=15 April 2013 |website=[[Herald.ie]]}}</ref> As of 2019, she is the only Luas passenger (counted as a passenger, as she had intended to travel on the tram) to have died in a collision incident.

On 7 April 2014, a car collided with a Luas tram at the junction of Jervis Street and [[Abbey Street]], and was caused to fatally strike a 35-year-old pedestrian from Dublin, who was pronounced dead at the scene.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2014 |title=Woman dies after collision between Luas and car in Dublin |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0407/607198-woman-dies-after-collision-between-luas-and-car/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220411/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0407/607198-woman-dies-after-collision-between-luas-and-car/ |archive-date=8 April 2014 |access-date=7 April 2014 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref> On 8 July 2017, a woman died after being struck by a city centre-bound Luas tram at St. James Walk, just past the Fatima stop, in Rialto.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 July 2017 |title=Woman killed after being struck by Luas tram in early hours |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/woman-killed-after-being-struck-by-luas-tram-in-early-hours-35907838.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105411/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/woman-killed-after-being-struck-by-luas-tram-in-early-hours-35907838.html |archive-date=22 December 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> On 14 February 2019 a woman was struck and killed on a Tallaght bound tram between the Cookstown and Tallaght Hospital stops. She was pronounced dead at the scene.<ref name="rte">{{Cite web |date=14 February 2019 |title=Woman dies after being struck by Luas tram |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2019/0214/1029560-luas-collision-tallaght/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327221826/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2019/0214/1029560-luas-collision-tallaght/ |archive-date=27 March 2019 |access-date=27 March 2019 |website=rte.ie}}</ref> On 11 March 2019 a male pedestrian was struck and killed near the Kingswood stop.<ref name="irishtimes">{{Cite web |title=Man killed after being hit by Luas tram near Kingswood |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-killed-after-being-hit-by-luas-tram-near-kingswood-1.3822824 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905044636/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-killed-after-being-hit-by-luas-tram-near-kingswood-1.3822824 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |access-date=27 March 2019 |website=[[IrishTimes.com]]}}</ref><ref name="independent2">{{Cite news |last=Feehan, Conor |date=12 March 2016 |title=Man killed after being hit by Luas |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/man-killed-after-being-hit-by-luas-37904115.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195346/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/man-killed-after-being-hit-by-luas-37904115.html |archive-date=27 March 2019 |access-date=7 March 2021 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> In December 2019, a male cyclist died in a collision with a tram at Peter's Place.<ref name="irishtimes2">{{Cite web |last1=Pope |first1=Conor |last2=Bowers |first2=Shauna |date=15 December 2019 |title=Cyclist who died in Luas collision named as Cormac Ó Braonáin |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/cyclist-who-died-in-luas-collision-named-as-cormac-%C3%B3-braon%C3%A1in-1.4115871 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216052641/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/cyclist-who-died-in-luas-collision-named-as-cormac-%C3%B3-braon%C3%A1in-1.4115871 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=[[IrishTimes.com]]}}</ref><ref name="rte2">{{Cite web |date=15 December 2019 |title=Tributes paid to 19-year-old killed in Luas collision |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1215/1099215-dublin-luas-death/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215083254/https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1215/1099215-dublin-luas-death/ |archive-date=15 December 2019 |access-date=15 December 2019 |website=rte.ie}}</ref>

In September 2022, a male pedestrian aged in his 50s died after he was struck by a tram between the Cabra and Broombridge stops.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2022 |title=Investigation into death of man struck by Luas tram underway |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40963961.html |website=Irish Examiner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Man dies after being struck by Luas tram |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2022/09/18/man-dies-after-being-struck-by-luas-tram/ |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2022 |title=Man dies after being struck by Luas tram |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2022/0918/1324024-luas-dublin-death/ |website=[[RTÉ.ie]]}}</ref>

=== Ransomware cyberattack ===

In January 2019 the website was compromised with a message threatening to "publish all data and send emails to your users" unless 1 [[Bitcoin]] was paid in five days.<ref name="rte-professional-cyber-attack">{{Cite news |date=3 January 2019 |title='Professional cyber-attack' may affect 3,226 Luas user record |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/technology/2019/0103/1020070-luas-website/ |access-date=5 January 2019 |publisher=[[RTE News]]}}</ref><ref name="irish-examiner-over-three-thousand-luas-users-may-have-had-records-compromised">{{Cite news |date=3 January 2019 |title=Over 3,000 Luas users may have had records compromised in cyber attack |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/over-3000-luas-users-may-have-had-records-compromised-in-cyber-attack-895306.html |access-date=5 January 2019 |publisher=[[Irish Examiner]]}}</ref><ref name="it-over-three-thousand-luas-user-records-may-have-been-compromised">{{Cite news |last=Burns |first=Sarah |date=3 January 2019 |title=Over 3,000 Luas user records 'may have been compromised' in cyber attack |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/over-3-000-luas-user-records-may-have-been-compromised-in-cyber-attack-1.3746674 |access-date=5 January 2019 |publisher=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref>

[[Transdev]] took the site offline on Thursday 3 January 2019.<ref name=irish-examiner-over-three-thousand-luas-users-may-have-had-records-compromised/><ref name=it-over-three-thousand-luas-user-records-may-have-been-compromised/><ref name="the-journal-user-records-compromised-in-luas-cyber-attack">{{Cite news |date=3 January 2019 |title=At least 3,226 user records compromised in Luas cyber attack |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/luas-ransomware-attack-4421137-Jan2019/ |access-date=5 January 2019 |publisher=[[TheJournal.ie]]}}</ref> At the time of the attack one bitcoin was worth €3,385.<ref name=rte-professional-cyber-attack/> That afternoon they said that the records affected were those of people who had signed up to a Luas newsletter and that those people would be contacted in the next 24 hours to inform them of the breach.<ref name=rte-professional-cyber-attack/><ref name=irish-examiner-over-three-thousand-luas-users-may-have-had-records-compromised/> No financial records had been compromised.<ref name=it-over-three-thousand-luas-user-records-may-have-been-compromised/><ref name=rte-professional-cyber-attack/> The [[Data Protection Commissioner]] and [[Garda National Economic Crime Bureau]] were both notified of the attack.<ref name=rte-professional-cyber-attack/><ref name=it-over-three-thousand-luas-user-records-may-have-been-compromised/>

==Future==

In January 2023 the transport strategy for the [[Greater Dublin Area]] 2022-2042 was published.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Broin |first=Cian |date=26 January 2023 |title=NTA publishes plans for Luas, DART and Metrolink extensions |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/nta-publishes-plans-dublins-transport-29060541 |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=[[Irish Mirror]] |language=en}}</ref> It details four extensions to the existing LUAS system to be delivered in its term:

* Extension of the Green Line north to Finglas to be delivered in the medium term (2031–2036)

* New Line to Lucan (2031–2036)

* Extension of the Green Line south to Bray (2031–2036).

* Extension of the Red Line to [[Poolbeg]] to be delivered before 2042.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |date=23 January 2023 |title=Metrolink and new Luas lines in €25bn Dublin transport plan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2023/01/24/nta-publishes-new-25-billion-dublin-transport-plan/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

It also proposes up to 8 new lines and extensions, some previously proposed, to be delivered post-2042 with the NTA to "undertake detailed appraisal, planning and design work" in that 20 year time frame. Those lines are:

# City Centre to [[Clongriffin]]

# City Centre to [[Beaumont, Dublin|Beaumont]] and [[Balgriffin]]

# [[Green Line (Luas)|Green Line]] Extension to [[Tyrrelstown]]

# City Centre to [[Blanchardstown]]

# [[Red Line (Luas)|Red Line]] Reconfiguration to provide the following lines:

## [[Clondalkin]]-City Centre;

## [[Tallaght]]-[[Kimmage]]-City Centre.

# [[Tallaght]] to City Centre via [[Knocklyon]];

# Green Line Reconfiguration to provide the following lines:

## City Centre to [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]] via [[University College Dublin|UCD]] and [[Sandyford]]

## [[Sandyford]] to City Centre

## [[Sandyford]] to [[Cherrywood]] via [[Foxrock]] (suggested but unconfirmed)

The plan also examines the potential for an orbital LUAS, declaring that its alignment(s) should be specified and protected in the later half of the plan. Other upgrades to the system such as new stops, expanded depots, and improved security are also mentioned.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042 |url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/gda/draft-transport-strategy-for-the-greater-dublin-area-2022-2042/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=National Transport |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other proposed lines and extensions===

{{Luas Line F|collapse=yes}}

*'''Line F1/2''' – City Centre to [[Lucan, Dublin|Lucan]]. On 27 September 2007, Noel Dempsey (Minister for Transport) launched the public consultation process for the planned Luas line to Lucan. Two main route options where identified, with a number of sub-options also identified. It was expected that would link with the proposed Metro West. The preferred route was announced in November 2008 and the RPA where planning the precise alignment and station and depot locations. The planning for the two lines was split in two. Line F1 was to be the line from Lucan to where it will connect with the existing red line at Blackhorse and Line F2 will be where the line was to leave the existing red line at James and continue on to College Green.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

{{Luas Finglas Line|collapse=yes}}

*'''Luas Finglas''' – A {{Cvt|4|km}} extension from [[Broombridge railway station|Broombridge]] through [[Finglas]] to [[Charlestown Shopping Centre]] was announced in 2020, with a possible operating date of 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luas Finglas |url=https://www.luasfinglas.ie/#/home |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804090118/https://www.luasfinglas.ie/#/home |archive-date=4 August 2020 |access-date=4 August 2020 |website=LuasFinglas.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2020 |title=Finglas Luas extension would see 'grass track' through three parks |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0728/1155945-luas-extension-plans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710154001/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0728/1155945-luas-extension-plans/ |archive-date=10 July 2021 |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=rte.ie}}</ref> A public consultation was launched in July 2020.<ref name="IT Finglas Route2">{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |title=Plans to extend Luas to Finglas 'to bring 30,000 within 1km' of Green line |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plans-to-extend-luas-to-finglas-to-bring-30-000-within-1km-of-green-line-1.4315578 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807222516/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plans-to-extend-luas-to-finglas-to-bring-30-000-within-1km-of-green-line-1.4315578 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |access-date=4 August 2020 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2020 |title=Luas is Growing: Luas Finglas Public Consultation launched and new 55m tram now in service |url=https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/luas-is-growing-luas-finglas-public-consultation-launched-and-new-55m-tram-now-in-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811102841/https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/luas-is-growing-luas-finglas-public-consultation-launched-and-new-55m-tram-now-in-service/ |archive-date=11 August 2020 |access-date=13 February 2021 |publisher=National Transport Authority}}</ref> In November 2021, [[RTÉ News]] reported that the line would not be complete {{update after|2032|1|1|text=until after 2031}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilraine |first=John |date=9 November 2021 |title=MetroLink postponed for ten years - NTA draft strategy |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2021/1109/1258759-metrolink/ |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref> In October 2024, ''[[The Irish Times]]'' reported that [[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for Transport]] [[Eamon Ryan]] would seek cabinet approval for the completion of the line before 2031.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Olivia |title=Finglas Luas: New tram line could service population of 60,000 by 2031 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2024/10/21/plans-for-dublins-next-luas-to-go-for-cabinet-approval-tuesday/ |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref>

{{Luas Line B2|collapse=yes}}

*'''Line B2''' – Cherrywood to [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]] environs extension (Green Line). This is a proposed extension of {{convert|6.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}. On 6 June 2007, the route of this Luas extension was announced. It is proposed to run from Brides Glen to Fassaroe and Bray (adjacent to the [[Bray Daly railway station|DART station]]), and will run very close to the [[N11 road (Ireland)|M11 motorway]], eventually crossing it near the Wilford interchange.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County County Agenda Item |url=http://ecouncil.dlrcoco.ie:9071/mgAi.aspx?ID=33210 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924144342/http://ecouncil.dlrcoco.ie:9071/mgAi.aspx?ID=33210 |archive-date=24 September 2021 |access-date=29 July 2021 |website=ecouncil.dlrcoco.ie | date=4 September 2006 }}</ref> This extension was postponed in 2009 due to the [[Post-2008 Irish economic downturn]], and while it has been proposed again in the decade since, as of October 2020, Minister Ryan confirmed the extension will not commence in the short term, but could be proposed in the future after the extension to Finglas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finnerty |first=Mike |date=11 April 2024 |title=Finglas Luas line back on track |url=https://dublinpeople.com/news/travel/articles/2024/04/11/finglas-luas-line-back-on-track/ |website=DublinPeople.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fogarty |first=Mary |date=17 October 2020 |title=Plans for Bray Luas some time away |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/news/plans-for-bray-luas-some-time-away-39620003.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116071357/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/news/plans-for-bray-luas-some-time-away-39620003.html |archive-date=16 January 2021 |access-date=2021-01-14 |website=[[Independent.ie]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Rejected projects===

*'''Line E''' – In May 2008, the feasibility study for a possible Luas line E, to run from Dundrum to the City Centre via [[Rathfarnham]], [[Terenure]] and [[Harold's Cross]], was completed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2008 |title=Feasibility Study – Transport Infrastructure Ireland |url=http://www.rpa.ie/upload/documents/Feasibility%20Study%20Possible%20Luas%20Line%20Rathfarnham%20to%20City%20Centre%20(Line%20E).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804112740/https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//attachment.php?attachmentid=492556&d=1570495195 |archive-date=2020-08-04 |publisher=[[Railway Procurement Agency]] |via=[[Boards.ie]]}}</ref> The line was found to be feasible and it was submitted to the Minister for Transport but was rejected on being found uneconomic to operate.

===Other projects===

Following the introduction of Luas in Dublin, there is support to bring trams <!--light rail--> to other Irish cities. During the 2007 election campaign, [[Fianna Fáil]] and the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]] both announced plans for tram <!--light rail--> systems in [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Limerick]], [[Galway]], [[Waterford]] and [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]]. The 2007 Programme for Government between these two parties and the [[Progressive Democrats]] included feasibility studies on these projects within the first two years of the government.<ref name="AgreedProgramme2007">{{Cite web |date=June 2007 |title=An Agreed Programme for Government |url=http://www.dfa.ie/uploads/documents/EU%20Division/newprogrammeforgovermentjune2007.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317205901/http://www.dfa.ie/uploads/documents/EU%20Division/newprogrammeforgovermentjune2007.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2009 |access-date=7 March 2009 |publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs |page=13}}</ref> Cork and Limerick were expected to complete their studies by "mid 2009".<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 2008 |title=Proposals for light rail system for Limerick & Cork (ref no:3407/08) |url=http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10524&lang=ENG&loc=2262 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094600/http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10524&lang=ENG&loc=2262 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |access-date=7 March 2009 |website=Press Centre: Parliamentary Questions 2008 |publisher=Department of Transport}}</ref> As a result of the financial crisis beginning in 2008, a moratorium was placed on future capital projects; as such, no feasibility studies have been completed as of 2017.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

In 2018 a revived campaign for a [[Galway]] LUAS or "[[Proposed light rail developments for Galway City|GLUAS]]" was launched receiving support [[Independent politician (Ireland)|Independent]] [[Teachta Dála|TD]] [[Catherine Connolly]]. The campaign claims a 21&nbsp;km [[very light rail]] line with trains every five minutes could be installed for as little as €200 million, and make a major contribution to reducing Galway's traffic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GLUAS - Very Light Rail for Galway |url=https://www.gluasforgalway.com/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=GLUAS - Very Light Rail for Galway |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Siggins |first=Lorna |date=8 January 2018 |title=A Gluas for Galway? Light rail project campaign revived |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/a-gluas-for-galway-light-rail-project-campaign-revived-1.3347639 |access-date=2022-10-27 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |language=en}}</ref> The denial of planning permission for the Galway's second ring-road in 2022 is likely to add pressure to solve the area's traffic problems.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Tim |last2=Beesley |first2=Arthur |date=14 October 2022 |title=Galway ring road plan quashed as board admits it was not aware of climate plan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2022/10/14/permission-for-galway-ring-road-quashed-as-planning-board-concedes-legal-action/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2019, plans were revealed for a [[Cork Light Rail|Luas-style system in Cork]]. The system would consist of a {{convert|17|km|mi}} long line with 25 stops from [[Ballincollig]] to [[Mahon Point Shopping Centre|Mahon Point]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2019 |title=Plans for a LUAS system in Cork are revealed |url=http://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Plans-for-a-LUAS-system-in-Cork-are-revealed-55252abf-f18a-4239-92b6-e1f66bc8b158-ds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515181843/https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Plans-for-a-LUAS-system-in-Cork-are-revealed-55252abf-f18a-4239-92b6-e1f66bc8b158-ds |archive-date=15 May 2019 |access-date=2019-06-23 |website=[[Echo Live]]}}</ref> The project was re-announced in April 2025.<ref>{{cite news | title=Luas Cork mapped: Preferred route for €2bn project unveiled | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/04/14/luas-cork-preferred-route-for-2bn-project-unveiled/ }}</ref>

==See also==

* [[TransportationTransport in Ireland]]

*[[List of Irish companies]]

*[[Public transport operators in Dublin]]

*[[Dublin United Transport Company]] (pre-1950 operator of Dublin's original tram system)

*[[Trams in Europe]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.luas.ie Luas website]

* [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map-e.php?Map=Dublin Track plan of the Luas tram system]

* [http://www.luascrosscity.ie Luas Cross City project]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061126064708/http://www.meathontrack.com/luas.html Photos of Luas Green line(Harcourt Street)]

* [http://www.railusers.ie Rail Users Ireland] Ireland's National Rail Users Group

* [http://www.hidden-dublin.com/images/thumbs/luasTN01.html Hidden Dublin] Photos of Luas construction

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040703060946/http://www.rpa.ie/ Railway Procurement Agency]

* {{Cite web |title=Transport For Ireland – Further Growth in Passenger Journey Numbers on 'Transport For Ireland' Subsidised Services - |url=https://www.transportforireland.ie/further-growth-in-passenger-journey-numbers-on-transport-for-ireland-subsidised-services/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055508/https://www.luas.ie/faqs.html |archive-date=11 April 2017 |access-date=27 March 2019 |website=[[TransportForIreland.ie]]}}

{{Commons category|LUAS tram system}}

== External link ==

{{Dublin transport}}

* [http://www.luas.ie Official site: Luas]

{{Transdev}}

[[Category:Ireland]]Luas| [[Category:Transportation in Ireland]]

[[Category:2004 establishments in Ireland]]

[[Category:750 V DC railway electrification]]

[[Category:Light rail in Ireland]]

[[Category:Rail transport in Ireland]]

[[Category:Tram transport in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:Transdev]]

[[Category:Transport companies of the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:Transport in County Dublin]]