Taoiseach to open new Luas line
More than 26,000 residents will live within a 15-minute walk of a new Luas line when it starts running today.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen will officially open the 7.5km extension of the Luas Green Line, which will serve 11 new stops to Cherrywood and Brides Glen in Dublin.
The average journey time from St Stephen’s Green will be 40 minutes, with the Luas running about every 10 minutes.
Junior minister Ciaran Cuffe said it would provide a valuable link to the city centre for thousands of commuters and communities in south Dublin.
“Over 26,000 more residents will now be within 15 minutes walk from a fixed rail connection to the heart of city,” he said.
“Encouraging commuters out of their cars and on to public transport makes sense from an environmental, financial and traffic management perspective.
“Carbon emissions from our transport sector have risen dramatically over the last decade and providing reliable, fixed line light rail alternatives are part of the solution to this.”
He said an extra two milllion passengers would use the Luas network every year.
Passenger services will start at 11am and serve nine new locations at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Brides Glen. Racecourse and Brennanstown are two future Stops.
