Luas extension gets green light
The extension of the Luas Green Line from Sandyford to Cherrywood in south Dublin moved a step closer today after it was given the go-ahead by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
The extra 7.5km of track, expected to be completed by 2010, could see capacity increase from 10 million passengers a year to more than 18 million. Work is due to begin shortly.
Mr Cullen approved an application by the Railway Procurement Agency for a Railway Order to extend the line out to Cherrywood.
“Luas carried more than 22 million passengers last year and is set to exceed that number this year, as more and more people choose to use public transport rather than their car,” he said.
“It is an integral part of our public transport infrastructure under Transport 21.”
The RPA applied to the minister last November for permission to undertake this project as part of the ambitious Transport 21 plan and following a public independent inquiry it has been given the go-ahead.
