Luas (Tram System Dublin) - Luas Tram Track and Rolling Stock - D

Luas (Tram System Dublin) - D

Luas Tram Track and Rolling Stock

The system operates on a 750 V DC overhead power supply. The international standard track gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) is used, rather than the Irish 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in).

The silver Alstom Citadis trams, manufactured in La Rochelle, France, reach a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) on off-street sections, but travel at a slower speed on-street where conflicts with other vehicles and pedestrians can occur. The 26 initial Red Line '3000' Class trams were 30-metre (98 ft 5 in) long Citadis 301 configurations with a capacity of 256. The 14 Green Line '4000 Class' trams, each 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) long Citadis 401 configurations, have a capacity of 358 including two wheelchairs.

Starting in 2007, all the Red line trams were upgraded to 40 metres (131 ft 3 in) by inserting two more articulated sections, with the last one converted by June 2008. Both configurations of tramcars are fully compatible with both the Red and the Green Lines.

26 new 43-metre Citadis 402 trams, numbered as the '5000 Class', were ordered for delivery in early 2009. These are 100% low-floor configuration and solely operate on the Green Line, with the 4000 Class trams cascaded to the Red Line after the entire 5000 Class had been introduced.

7 further, 55-metre (180 ft 5 in) Citadis 402 variants were procured for use on the St. Stephen's Green - Broombridge line. They were brought into service between January and June 2018. These are numbered as members of the 5000 Class, with all existing 5000 Class units being lengthened to match. 8 further new units were ordered for delivery during 2020, with the first of those entering service in July 2020.  In October 2019, it was announced that 26 existing Green Line trams would be extended to 55 metres (180 ft 5 in).

In other aspects, the two lines are identical except that the inter-axis width between the tracks on the Green Line is slightly wider than on the Red Line. The construction planning for the Green Line ensures a distance of track centres at 3,400 millimetres (11 ft 1+7⁄8 in) including a 400 millimetres (15+3⁄4 in) extra for the kinematic envelope of metro trains. This does not relate to the track gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), which is identical on both lines. This will allow wider metro trains be run on the same tracks if a proposed upgrade to full metro service is implemented.

This is possible because the route uses an old railway line and as such has few interactions with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The Railway Procurement Agency has stated (November 2006) that "We still envisage conversion of almost all Luas lines to light metro standard in the long-term.". Platform length also varies between lines, with the original 40-metre (131 ft 3 in) platforms lengthened to 55 metres (180 ft 5 in) on the Green Line.

The main engineering structures on the Green Line at present are Milltown Viaduct, also known as The Nine Arches, a large stone viaduct dating from 1854, and the William Dargan Bridge, a large cable-stayed bridge at Taney Cross, near Dundrum town centre.

Luas Tram Dublin Overview

Luas Locale: Dublin, Ireland
Luas Transit Type: Tram (or Light rail)
Luas Number of Lines: 2 (Red and Green)
Luas Number of Stations: 67
Luas Daily Ridership: 114,500 passengers
Luas Annual Ridership: 48 million passengers (2019)
Luas Began Operation: 30 June 2004, 19 years ago
Luas Operator(s): Transdev
Luas Number of Vehicles: 26 Citadis 301 (3000 Class)
14 Citadis 401 (4000 Class)
41 Citadis 402 (5000 Class)
Luas System Length: 42.1 kilometres (26.2 mi)
Luas Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Luas Electrification: 750 V DC overhead line