John Lahart TD has received new details through Parliamentary Question which reveals that five LUAS trams were transferred from the north bound red line to the green line running south bound due to the LUAS Cross-City project which began operating earlier this year. The National Transport Authority has confirmed that an order was placed in October for eight new trams which will be added to the green line.
Deputy Lahart said, “At present, there are five red line trams in operation on the green line – Four of these are in service while one is currently being used for testing the new signalling system. Moving trams from one line to another was never going to prove to be a viable or sustainable solution to the rising demand. “According to the NTA, the peak tram requirement on the red line is 27 but there are currently 35 trams on the service. Despite this, residents locally have informed me that there is severe overcrowding on peak time red line LUAS services making their commute close to unbearable. “Passengers along the Tallaght route have had to endure adverse effects on their service to facilitate a line the other side of the city and that decision was never fair in the first instance. “I have been assured by the NTA that the five trams initially removed from the red line will eventually be moved back to the Tallaght line when new trams are delivered. This is essential,” he concluded.
