Luas in profit one year ahead of schedule
Dublin’s Luas light rail system made a profit a full year ahead of schedule, making it the only transport network in the country not in need of Government subsidies, it was revealed today.
Carrying around 60,000 people every day during 2005, the Railway Procurement Agency said Luas achieved a financial surplus of €200,000, allowing them to get by without a €2.5m handout from the Department of Transport.
But its popularity has led to severely overcrowded trams at peak times with scores of passengers left stranded at platforms around the city.
In a bid to allay fears that demand from the public could not be matched, RPA chairman Padraic White said the agency would continue to improve the service.
“We have already introduced additional services at morning peak hours and from September next a four minute frequency on the Green Line will be introduced,” he said.
“We will also increase the frequency of service on the Red Line and from spring 2007 the overall capacity of the Red Line will be increased by 40% by increasing the length of trams from 30 metres to 40 metres.”
Figures for 2005 show Luas carries on average 60,900 passengers every day and in December last year Christmas shoppers helped boost numbers to 77,000 – a 40% rise on the previous year.
The pattern is continuing, with results for May showing a 30% rise on the same month in 2005.
Mr White said figures from 2006 showed Luas was consistently carrying more than 70,000 people every day.
The predicted traffic chaos and danger on the roads from trams has not materialised the RPA’s annual report found with only 36 accidents last year and only two people needing medical care.
Green Party transport spokesman Eamon Ryan said passenger numbers and profitability have consistently surpassed expectations and are testament to the popularity of frequent and efficient public transport.
“We now need to replicate that success by introducing additional Luas lines that are not currently being planned for,” he said.
The Dublin south-east TD suggested running tram lines to Rathfarnham, Coolock, Poolbeg and Lucan in addition to the Cherrywood and Docklands extension.
Mr Ryan also urged the RPA to consider a line north along O’Connell Street through Parnell Square and linking up with the old Broadstone Rail line which would connect up to the Maynooth rail line.
The RPA also revealed they had received 2,000 responses to public consultation initiatives for Metro North from St Stephen’s Green to Dublin Airport.
Following that it is now considering a combination of the East and Central route going underground from Drumcondra to DCU stopping at Griffith Avenue, replacing Trinity and Upper O’Connell Street stations with a single stop on O’Connell St near the Luas Red Line.
It is also looking at using surface or underground sections in place of elevated sections. The consultation period ends on June 30.
The public are also being asked for their views on a Luas city centre link with possible routes crossing the Liffey on O’Connell St Bridge or over a new bridge.
Four options are being tabled including a direct route up Westmoreland St and Dawson St to the Green, a line along Pearse St to Merrion Sq and onto the Green, a route via Dame St, South Great George’s St to the Green and a one-way line around Kildare St and Dawson St.
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