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Dublin Luas

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Luas ('speed') is the modern tramway system in Dublin, Ireland. There are currently two Luas lines. The initial phases of Green and Red lines opened in 2004. As of July 2011, the system has 54 stations and 38.2 kilometres (23.7 miles) of track. The system operates on a 750 V DC overhead power supply. The international standard rail gauge of 1435 mm (4 ft 8½in) is used, rather than the Irish 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in).

In May 1998 the government decided to build two lines. 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 via St Stephen's Green and Ballymun. Part of the second was to be underground through the city centre. The St. Stephen's Green to Dublin Airport section was dropped before construction began, as it was decided to serve the area by a metro. Construction work began in March 2001 between Tallaght to Connolly line, and from Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green. Construction finished in February 2004 and a period of testing and driver training began. 30th June 2004 was decided on as the official launch date of the Green Line. The Red Line opened on 26th September 2004. On the 8th December 2009 the Red Line C1 Connolly to Docklands extension opened. There are 4 stops: George's Dock, Mayor Square, Spencer Dock (serving the new Docklands railway station, approximately 500m away) and terminating in Point Village, opposite the the O2. Construction started at the beginning of June 2007. Test runs began on the line in September 2009 before the opening.

2009 Route Map showing initial lines plus the Docklands extension to The Point
Dublin LUAS Trams - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards

An extension of the Green Line from Sandyford to Brides Glen was opened in October 2010, plus a branch from Belgard to Saggart on the Red Line was opened in July 2011. There are numerous plans for extensions, but these may be affected by the current economic situation. The Green Line has been built with wider clearances (it uses mainly ex-heavy rail trackbed) so that it can be upgraded to full metro standards in the future.

2011 Route Map showing extensions to Brides Glen and Saggart
Dublin LUAS Trams - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards

My visit to Dublin was in August 2008 and only the initial Connolly-Tallaght and St Stephen's Green-Sandyford sections were open. The Red Line was also curtailed at Abbey Street due to work on the Docklands extension.


 

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Other Simplon Tram Pages:-
   Tramways Header Page  

References
   Luas website:  www.Luas.ie

Luas Tram Maps



Dublin Luas

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Luas Trams in Cherbourg

By chance, the first Luas trams that I photographed were at Cherbourg, waiting to be loaded onto a ferry for Ireland.


Luas trams on low-loaders at Cherbourg
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 3rd August 2005

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2005 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2005 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2005 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2005 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards






Luas Green Line

The Green Line runs from St Stephen's Green to Bride's Glen, a distance of 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi), and it is entirely in the south side of Dublin city and follows the route of the old Harcourt Street railway line, which was reserved for possible re-use when it closed in 1958. The main engineering structures on the Green Line are Milltown Viaduct, also known as The Nine Arches, a large stone viaduct dating from 1854, and the William Dargan Bridge, a large new cable-stayed bridge at Taney Cross, near Dundrum town centre.



St Stephen's Green

St Stephen's Green is the city terminus of the Green Line. It is about 15 minutes walk from the Red Line.

St Stephen's Green
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Ranelagh

Ranelagh is an elevated station three stops from St Stephan's Green.

Ranelagh station on a viaduct
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Dundrum

The main new engineering structures on the Green Line is the William Dargan Bridge, a large cable-stayed bridge adjacent to Dundrum station.

The William Dargan Bridge seen from Dundrum station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Sandyford

Sandyford was the southern terminus of the Green Line in 2008. Work was under way on the extension to Brides Glen, with only one platform in use at the time.

Construction at Sandyford on the extension to Brides Glen
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards



Luas 4011 at Sandyford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards






Luas Red Line

The Red Line runs in an east-west direction through Dublin's Northside, then crosses the River Liffey and travels southwest to the heavily populated suburb of Tallaght, with a branch from Belgard through the Citywest campus, terminating at Saggart. The terminus at Tallaght is at The Square, a large modern shopping centre (although few units were occupied in August 2008).


Abbey Street

Abbey Street was the city terminus of the Red Line on my visit due to work on the Docklands extension.

Abbey Street
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards




Goldenbridge

Goldenbridge station is on a section of the route which runs parallel to the Grand Canal (which links the River Liffey to the River Shannon)

Goldenbridge station on the Red Line with the Grand Canal
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards







Tallaght

Tallaght was the only western terminus of the Red Line on my visit - the Saggart branch was not opened until 2011.

Tallaght
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards






Luas Tram Fleet

Luas uses Alstom Citadis trams, manufactured in La Rochelle, French. They have a top speed of 70 km/h. The 26 initial Red Line 3000 class trams were three-section 30m long Citadis 301 configurations with a capacity of 256. The 14 Green Line 4000 class trams were five-section 40m Citadis 401 configurations, and have a capacity of 358 including two wheelchairs. Starting in 2007, all the 30m Red Line trams were upgraded to 40m by inserting two more articulated sections, with the last one converted by June 2008.

26 new seven-section 43m 5000 class trams were ordered for the new extensions. The first deliveries arrived at the Sandyford depot on 23rd February 2009. They are used on both the Red and Green lines, and all were service by June 2009.


Luas 3011

Luas 3011 arriving at Sandyford, the temporary southern terminus of Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 3015

Luas 3015 at Goldenbridge on the Red Line
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards



Luas 3015 at Abbey Street on the Red Line
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 3016

Luas 3016 at Goldenbridge on the Red Line
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards






Luas 4002

Luas 4002 at Ranelagh on Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 4006

Luas 4006 at Dundrum on Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 4009

Luas 4009 at Ranelagh on Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 4010

Luas 4010 at Dundrum on Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards





Luas 4011

Luas 4011 at St Stephen's Green, the city terminus of Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards



Luas 4011 at Sandyford, the southern terminus of Green Line 1 in 2008
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon PostcardsDublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards



Luas 4011 at Ranelagh on Green Line 1
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th August 2008

Dublin LUAS Trams - Photo: ©2008 Ian Boyle - www.simplompc.co.uk - Simplon Postcards



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