Last updated 13th November 2003

	LUAS
	Dublin Light Rail System

Chronology of events

Based on articles by MJ Walsh in Light Rail & Modern Tramway, [Kilroy 1996], [Kilroy 1998], [Hajducki 1974], press reports and information provided by Light Rail Project Office.

Historical - Luas Development - Future Timetable

Historical

1834

First railway opened in Dublin between Westland Row and Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire)

1860/1

George Francis Train attempts to start horse tramway

1 Feb 1872

Dublin Tramway Company opens horse tramway from city centre to Rathgar. Other lines follow run by Dublin Central Tramways, North Dublin Street Tramways, Dublin Southern Tramways, Blackrock & Kingstown Tramway.

1881

Opening of interurban Dublin and Lucan steam roadside tramway, later extended to Leixlip.

1881- 1893

Dublin United Tramways formed through amalgamations of existing systems.

1889

Opening of Dublin and Blessington roadside steam tramway, later extended to Poulaphouca.

1896 - 1901

Electrification of horse tram routes

1901

Opening of scenic Hill of Howth tramway in NE Dublin by Great Northern Railway.

1922

First proposals to electrify Dublin suburban rail

1928

Dublin trams reach Lucan through take-over and re-gauging of Dublin and Lucan Tramway. Last extension to 61 mile system.

1932

Closure of Dublin and Blessington steam tramway

1945

Formation of Coras Iompair Eireann (CIE), national transport company, including Dublin tramways.

9 July 1949

Closure of last city tram route

31 Dec 1958

Harcourt Street - Bray railway closes ( from 2003 to reopen as Luas line 2).

31 May 1959

Closure of Hill of Howth tramway. Last tramway in Ireland.

1971

Dublin Transportation Study recommends establishment of a rail study.

1975

Dublin Rapid Rail Transit Study (DRRTS) published recommending city-centre underground rail lines connecting with existing lines, disused lines and new spurs to suburbs. An underground central station would be at the hub.

1979

First phase of DRRTS, electrification of existing Howth to Bray line via city, sanctioned.

23 July 1984

Opening of Howth-Bray line as Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART)

1987

Government decide against any further railway electrification in Dublin due to the cost

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Luas development

1990

Alternative light rail schemes proposed for Dublin by Ansaldo Engineering and Irish Rail with city-centre street running.

Nov 1991

Dublin Transport Initiative (DTI) set up to address transport problems of city

6 Feb 1992

Minister announces disused Harcourt Street to Bray railway to be used for guided bus or LRT system

1993

DTI recommends construction of a three line light rail system linking Tallaght, Ballymum and Dundrum/Cabinteely to city centre incorporating new alignments and on-street track plus the Harcourt Street line.

Oct 1994

Government requests CIE plan implementation of LRT system in two phases:

• Phase 1: Tallaght to Dundrum via city centre using new alignments and disused Harcourt Street railway line.
• Phase 2: Ballymum to city centre and Dundrum to Sandyford

12 Dec 1995

Announcement of go-ahead for Phase 1 of system, part funded by EU structural fund.

July 1996

Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act enacted. Environmental Impact Statement prepared for Phase 1.

1997

Light Rail Order application made for Phase 1.

July 1997

Public enquiry into Phase 1 opened but adjourned pending results of study into underground option promised in election campaign.

Oct 1997

Government commissions evaluation of underground v surface options in city centre from WS Atkins.

April 1998

Atkins Report published recommending the surface Luas as proposed by CIE.

5 May 1998

Government announce decision to proceed with a redesigned and extended Luas network including links to all main railway stations and the airport and including an underground section on one line in city centre.

• Line A: Tallaght to Connolly Station on surface
• Line B: Sandyford to Airport largely via disused railway alignments and underground section in city centre

Future extensions to other suburbs also identified.

July 1998

Minister announces task force (Light Rail Advisory Group) to be set up to oversee delivery of system

Application for Light Rail Order made for Line A from Tallaght to Abbey Street in city centre

2 Nov 1998

Public enquiry opens into new Line A plan chaired by Judge Seán O'Leary

14 Dec 1998

Application for Light Rail Order for Line B from St Stephen's Green to Sandyford

22 Dec 1998

Public enquiry gives go-ahead for Line A with minor conditions

13 April 1999

Opening of public enquiry into Line B Phase 1

May 1999

Decision to proceed with Line A made by government

June 1999

Public enquiry gives go-ahead for Line B with minor conditions

22nd July 1999

First report of Light Rail Advisory Action Group says development of system is more-or-less on schedule and rejects idea of financing Luas through a public-private partnership because of the potential delay involved. Also suggests opening of shortened services before completion of full lines.

August 1999

Decision to proceed with Line B by government

19th August 1999

Pre-construction work starts on Line A (moving utility cables etc.)

August - December 1999

Exploratory drilling for underground section of Line B

September 1999

Application for Light Rail Order for Line C to Connolly Station

December 1999

Public enquiry into Line C

January 2000

Publication of enquiry into Line C accepts most of route but rejects proposed site of terminus in Harbourmaster Place

February 2000

Consultants report that, from test drilling, they conclude an underground route through the city centre is feasible.

April 2000

Strategic rail reviews for Dublin area by Dublin Transportation Office suggest that Luas Line B should be upgraded to a heavier Metro line, linking to an airport rail line. Also suggests two new surface light rail lines: from Harold's Cross through city centre to Drumcondra and an orbital line through Tallaght, Clondalkin, Lucan and Blanchardstown to Airport. In a separate move, the government proposed splitting up the Dublin Bus, provincial bus and rail sectors of CIE into separate private companies. Luas Light Rail could be run as a separate entity in this proposal.

May 2000

Independent consultants commissioned to study rail proposals for Dublin.

June 2000

Revised application submitted for Line C has new Connolly Station terminus on site of station ramp.

August 2000

Government accepts proposals for a Metro system

September 2000

Public enquiry into revised Line C application held and accepts new terminus plan.

November 2000

Public consulatation starts into extension of Line B south from Sandyford to Cherrywood.

Authorisation of Line C extending Line A to Connolly Station

December 2000

Government outlines plans to end CIE's monopoly on public transport including the setting up of a Rail Procurement Agency and open competition for franchises to run Luas and Metro system.

January 2001

Competition opened for bids to run Luas system. CIE is not allowed to enter.

February 2001

Government consultation paper proposes setting up an independent Rail Safety Authority which would apply to Luas, Metro and heavy rail.

March 2001

Contarct for construction of first two Luas lines awarded to Ansaldo (Italy) and MVM (Australia) with Ballast Nedam.

21 May 2001

Public launch of first Luas tram at UITP conference in Earls Court, London in a lilac and yellow livery.

July 2001

Completion of Line A depot buildings at Red Cow.

October 2001

Commencement of building depot at Sandyford (Line B)

3 Nov 2001

Public launch of first Luas tram in Merrion Square in Dublin.

University College requests a 1km spur from Luas line 2 to their Belfield campus.

Dec 2001

Bill published setting up Rail Safety Authority.

Rail procurement Agency established to deal with future expansion of Luas, Metro and other rail projects.

January 2002

Cabinet approves Metro line 1 from Airport and Blanchardstwon to Shanganagh with underground city-centre section and incorporating Luas line 2. Metro could open in 2007. Call for tenders for Metro construction issued.

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Future timetable (very tentative)

July 2004

Opening of Line B for public service.

August 2004

Opening of Line A/C for public service.

2006

Opening of Metro line 1 to airport.

2016

Completion of 5 Luas lines and 3 Metro lines as set out in Platform for Change.

HISTORICAL REFERENCES

Walsh, MJ: Light rail for Dublin? part 1, Light Rail and Modern Tramway, 56 (666), 143-150, June 1993.
Walsh, MJ: Light rail for Dublin? part 2, Light Rail and Modern Tramway, 56 (668), 199-205, August 1993.
Hajducki,SM: A Railway Atlas of Ireland, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1974.
Joyce, J.: Trams in Colour since 1945, Blandford, London, 1970.
Kilroy, J.: Irish Trams, Colourpoint, Omagh, 1996.
Kilroy, J.: Trams to the Hill of Howth a pictorial tribute, Colourpoint, Omagh, 1998.
Corcoran, Michael : Dublin's trams: Through Streets Broad & Narrow, Midland, 2001.

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