To be delivered and ready for new services at end of 2017

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority and Michael Nolan, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) were all present as an order for new Luas trams was placed today. The order of seven “Citadis” trams with Alstrom Transport SA is the next important step as the Luas Cross City project progresses. Placing the order for additional trams now, will ensure their delivery in advance of the Green Line extension coming into operation at the end of 2017.

The new trams will be a longer version of the type currently being used on the Green Line – increasing from 43 metres to 54.6 metres. This will allow for 60 additional passengers to be carried per tram – a total of 369 people per tram. The cost of the trams is €36.5m excl VAT.

The current Red and Green Line trams are both tram-types within the Citadis range. The tram-stop platform lengths on the Luas Cross City are already designed to accommodate longer trams. The original Green Line platforms between St. Stephen’s Green and Sandyford will be extended in length in advance of the delivery of the new trams. The trams will be maintained at both Sandyford and Broombridge depots. The trams will be manufactured by Alstom Transport SA in La Rochelle, France.