[OPINION] Luas Red vs Green lines

dazberry

Hope Victor doesn't mind me putting this one out - just curious for people that have experience of both lines.

I was on the green line today for the first time and I have to say I was really impressed. Against this, I live on the Red line, so it takes the same time to go half? the distance (the Luas doesn't even get up any speed by the time I get home) for almost the same price.

I appreciated the green line had many advantages re: the Harcourt line and so many bridges, and forgetting about price, it just seems to me that the red line is vastly inferior to the green, so much so, that I'm sitting here almost considering renaming it the sh1t line in comparison.

So I'm just wondering - what are peoples opinions of both lines who have actually travelled both. Not looking to Luas bash at all, just an opinion an comparisons...

Thanks

D.

John R

dazberry wrote:

Hope Victor doesn't mind me putting this one out - just curious for people that have experience of both lines.

I was on the green line today for the first time and I have to say I was really impressed. Against this, I live on the Red line, so it takes the same time to go half? the distance (the Luas doesn't even get up any speed by the time I get home) for almost the same price.

I appreciated the green line had many advantages re: the Harcourt line and so many bridges, and forgetting about price, it just seems to me that the red line is vastly inferior to the green, so much so, that I'm sitting here almost considering renaming it the sh1t line in comparison.

So I'm just wondering - what are peoples opinions of both lines who have actually travelled both. Not looking to Luas bash at all, just an opinion an comparisons...

Thanks

D.

Your analysis sounds about right. The red line has far too many road junctions. Except for peak hours it is slower for most journeys than the various alternative bus routes.

The gaps between the stations are also very uneven. There are two stops far to close together on the old Guinness canal section where there is a huge gap between the Red Cow depot and Kylemore Road.

thejollyrodger

here, go and visit amsterdam and see what the trams are like over there. The stops are all over the shop. Once they get the tram running after about a year or so then it would be a better oppurtunity to judge if it is a bag of sh1te or actually a good means of transport.

Once they get the red cow rebuilt and the port tunnel finished then its going to be different. I expect outside the M50 to be redeveloped soon, thats the way those things go isnt it ?

DMC

The two lines each have their own characteristics, so you are really not comparing like with like.

What you have on the Green line is, as you have noted, an old railway line. Its only on street when it reaches Harcourt St to the Green, and then at Stillorgan. It is capable of getting up to good speeds, as it is its own dedicated line and doesnt share the road. Whereas with the Red line, its more of a street level tram, the only bits where it can get upto speed and is like the most of the Green line is from after the Red Cow stop to just after Ballymount.

So really, for those on the Green line, be thankful that they didnt really develop on the old Harcourt St. line.