Cullen - Feasibility study for Luas line from Rathfarnham, Terenure, Harold’s Cross to the City Centre

Date: 30 January 2007

Transport Minister, Martin Cullen T.D. has today announced (Tuesday 30 January 2007) that the feasibility study as contained in Transport 21, on the establishment of a Luas line from Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold’s Cross to the city centre is to be undertaken in the coming weeks.

Speaking today, Minister Cullen said: “Since its introduction in 2004, Luas has played a major role in persuading the travelling public of the merits of public transport and the existing Luas lines - which carried 26 million passengers last year - have broadened the scope of public transport in Dublin. Rathfarnham, Terenure and Harold’s Cross and their surrounding areas, are long-established thriving communities. It is vital that the workforce in the area and its residents have access to a range of public transport options if we want to get people out of their cars and on to public transport. It is in this context and also in response to the known congestion that is experienced along this route, that the feasibility of a Luas needs to be considered. The Railway Procurement Agency will prepare a full feasibility study and the process will commence in April”.

Currently, Dublin has two Luas lines in operation - the Green Line going from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford and the Red Line going from Connolly Station to Tallaght.

Under Transport 21, the Government’s investment programme for transport, seven Luas projects are being planned at this time. These are: Luas Sandyford to Cherrywood; Luas Cherrywood to Bray; Luas extension from Tallaght to Citywest; Luas from Connolly station to the Docklands (The Point); Lucan Luas line; Luas from St Stephen’s Green to the city centre (O’Connell Street) and the city centre out to Liffey junction.

Issued by: Michelle Hoctor, 087 8563070
Veronica Scanlan, 087 6430622