TRAMENDOUS
From the famous tram voice to shock figures – here’s everything to know about the Luas as it celebrates 20 years
There is a busy weekend ahead for Luas users
FANS of Taylor Swift and those heading to Pride will be using the Luas across the weekend - as the tram service celebrates its 20th birthday.
Sunday marks two decades since the first time Dubliners got to step onto the rail system.
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By this weekend, 50 million passengers will have used the Luas this year alone to travel home, to concerts and shows or to work.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said: “I was lucky enough to be on the very first Luas journey taken 20 years ago.
"It was a such a landmark day because it opened up parts of the old Harcourt Line again to the people of South Dublin, but this time with a new modern and reliable light rail service.
“Since that first trip on the Green Luas, we have added the Red Luas, serving communities out to the southwest of the city, and then we connected the two lines and further extended the Green Line to Broombridge and Cherrywood.
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The Luas, with its signature sound as it glides along, has become as synonymous with Dublin as many of the city’s other well-known landmarks.
“The success of Luas has been phenomenal and shows that people enthusiastically choose sustainable travel when it is provided. I look forward to the service’s continued success and expansion.
The light rail system will continue to play a key role as we implement the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy and in achieving our decarbonisation goals.
It also serves as a great model for the other light rail projects that we plan for our regional cities.”
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To mark 20 years of the Luas, here Nicola Bardon looks at 20 facts about the tram line.
A fact for every year
1. Luas is the Irish word for ‘speed.’
2. The maiden journey for the Luas was the Green Line from Sandyford to St Stephen’s Green on June 30, 2004.
3. The driver was Eddie Byrne, who still is a Luas driver.
4. It was officially launched by the then Minister for Transport Séamus Brennan
5. The Red Line opened on 26 September 2004 and passengers were given six days of free travel.
6. The idea for a new tram or light rail system for the city of Dublin was first suggested in 1981, by a Dublin Transportation Initiative report.
7. In 20 years, it has carried more than 650 million passengers.
8. There are 67 stops across the city, including Cabra, Tallaght and O’Connell Street.
9. On average, there are 140,000+ passengers daily
10. More than 400,000 Dubliners live within 1km of a Luas stop.
11. In 2004, 22 million passengers used the Luas. Last year, 48 million people used it.
12. The Luas covers 43km of tracks, 22km on the Green Line and 21km on the Red Line.
13. There are 81 trams in use across the city.
14. Each tram is designed to give up to 30 years of service before being retired.
15. €5 billion has been contributed to the economy by Luas customers.
16. Former RTE and Eurovision host Doireann Ní Bhriain is the voice of the Luas, who tells passengers to ‘please take your ticket, and your change.’
17. The Luas drops passengers outside a number of key locations, including St James’ Hospital, the 3Arena, Houston and Connolly Station and Grangegorman College.
18. There were 2,159 calls about anti-social behaviour on the Luas last year, compared to 1,001 in 2022.
19. Plans are underway to bring the Luas to Cork, where it will connect Ballincollig in the west to Mahon Point in the east via the city centre.
20. The next stage in Dublin will be complete between 2028 and 2032 and will start at Charlestown, before making its way down to Finglas Village, Finglas West, St Helena’s, Tolka Valley and then join the existing line at Broombridge.
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