Almost 1m fewer Luas journeys in 2008

Colonel Sanders

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1230/luas.html

Are there any comparable figures for other branches of public transport?

LEIN

That's a hell of a lot of people! I smell more fare increases on top of the one that's due!

Stark

1m less passengers or 1m less paying passengers?

L1011

Mostly red line - could the large scale closures/movings away from Tallaght by businesses have had part of that affect I wonder...

Also, the red line was disrupted heavily this year in the CC and by the Luas works at varying times - no Luas sitting outside Connolly may have changed some peoples habits.

Victor

Two main factors at play here:

1. Abbey Street to Connolly closure means people doing the Connolly-Heuston trip would have used the bus.

2. While economic recession may provide more customers at peak times, its can't really take all that many more until the 50m trams are delivered and times are further improved. However, off-peak passenger numbers will be down a lot as people travel less for shopping and entertainment.

Time Magazine

Damo9090 wrote: »

That's a hell of a lot of people! I smell more fare increases on top of the one that's due!

Ah good old Irish government economics: when people move away from the Luas make it less attractive!

Victor wrote: »

However, off-peak passenger numbers will be down a lot as people travel less for shopping and entertainment.

I suspect you're over-playing this. Shopping is recreational for 50% of the population. Them wimmens may spend less when they shop, but I doubt they'll go less often. A similar argument could be made for entertainment: head to the cinema instead of the pub, etc.

Victor

The Economist wrote: »

I suspect you're over-playing this. Shopping is recreational for 50% of the population. Them wimmens may spend less when they shop, but I doubt they'll go less often. A similar argument could be made for entertainment: head to the cinema instead of the pub, etc.

Anecdotal evidence and professional opinion is otherwise.

As a nation, we replace a night in the pub with a night of booze at home and a night of cinema with a DVD at home.

Poxyshamrock

Victor wrote: »

Two main factors at play here:

1. Abbey Street to Connolly closure means people doing the Connolly-Heuston trip would have used the bus.

2. While economic recession may provide more customers at peak times, its can't really take all that many more until the 50m trams are delivered and times are further improved. However, off-peak passenger numbers will be down a lot as people travel less for shopping and entertainment.

Drop in Tourism too?
Both Externally and Internally?

dfx-

I'm sure they could crush another 15m people in next year to make it 30m...

I'd love for a Luas to be sponsored by John West instead of Vodafone.. :pac:

Run_to_da_hills

With the high number of commuting foreign nationals returning to their homeland and the increasing amount of Irish signing on what do they expect.

Carroller16

92/90 route is much better

Reyman

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

With the high number of commuting foreign nationals returning to their homeland and the increasing amount of Irish signing on what do they expect.

That's the solution, I agree! Dublin Bus and the Luas rely hugely on foreign nationals who don't have cars.

Better still for revenue they don't have over 65 free passes.

monument

RAILWAY PROCUREMENT AGENCY - LUAS PASSENGER NUMBERS REMAIN STRONG

Luas passenger returns for 2008 show a strong performance on the Luas Red and Green Lines. 27.4 million passenger journeys were made in 2008 which compares with 25.8m passenger journeys in 2006 and 28.4m in 2007. Passenger numbers on the Green Luas Line have remained particularly firm at 12m plus in each of the three years while there has been some volatility on the Red Line which despite the severe economic downturn still carried almost 15million passengers in 2008.

Luas fares remains extremely good value for money, particularly for regular travellers. Customers have responded to the Luas advertising campaign promoting better value tickets and are switching away from single cash transactions at the vending machines to period passes and off-system sales outlets . This reduces queuing at vending machines. There has been a significant growth in the proportion of journeys made by those taking advantage of the tax benefits of monthly and annual tickets [up over 50%]. Usage of the Luas Smartcard also continues to grow [up 28%]. More customers than ever are saving both time and money by using the Irish Rail/Luas integrated tickets [up 15%].

RPA Chief Executive, Frank Allen, said that the performance was encouraging in very difficult economic circumstances where levels of economic activity had contracted significantly.

“The fast,reliable and comfortable service which Luas has provided over the last five years has produced a loyal and consistent customer base which has become more discerning in getting the best value for money from the range of ticket options which are available." Mr. Allen added that the new lines which are under construction in Docklands and Cherrywood will bring the Luas experience to other communities in the Greater Dublin Area in the coming years.

This is measured by tickets? If so...

Besides what has already been mentioned, wouldn't the increases in annual tickets, up over 50%, and rail/Luas tickets, up 15, have had a large enough effect (or an affect on revenues)?

And is a return trip (within the 90mins and without tagging out until you get back to where you started) on a Luas smart card counted as one or two journeys? :pac:

EDIT: Slightly strange who got to announced the "record LUAS passenger figures for 2007" around this time a year ago... poor RPA gets none of the glory...

Dempsey announces record LUAS passenger figures for 2007

28 December 2007

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD today announced that 2007 was a record year for passenger numbers on the Luas Red and Green lines operated by Veoila and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). In 2007 nearly 29 million passengers used the Luas service. This reflects an increase of nearly 3 million passengers on the 2006 passenger figures and 7 million on the 2005 passenger figures.

In order to facilitate this passenger growth in 2007 the RPA introduced 13 longer trams on both the Red and Green lines extending them from 30 meters to 40 meters. All remaining 30 metre trams will be extended to 40 metres in 2008 to allow further passenger growth and to provide greater comfort and accessibility for passengers.

Speaking today Minister Dempsey said, "These passenger figures for Luas are very encouraging. It's further proof that if you make reliable, top quality public transport available to the public then it will be used. In 2008 I want to see more quality public transport coming on stream so that people can start making the switch from cars to public transport with ease. Freeing up our city centres from severe congestion is vital for economic growth and for improved quality of life. Reliable public transport will play a central role in addressing this issue."

Minister Dempsey concluded; "Under Transport 21 we have ambitious plans in the area of public transport. We will deliver seven extra Luas services, two new Metro lines and increased heavy rail and bus capacity. This will make an immediate difference to the public and for the first time offer real alternatives to the car. "

Frank Allen CEO of the RPA said, "I am delighted with the growing passenger figures for both Luas lines and in particular with the record 2007 figures. I want to take this opportunity to thank the public for continuing to choose the Luas. We are working hard to deliver the planned new Luas and Metro services under Transport 21, and we hope to see more tram extensions coming on line and the commencement of services to Citywest and the Docklands over the next 36 months."

AlekSmart

Besides what has already been mentioned, wouldn't the increases in annual tickets, up over 50%, and rail/Luas tickets, up 15, have had a large enough effect (or an affect on revenues)?

This unpalateble (For Government) fact is the prime reason why Bus Atha Cliath is forced to cling to it`s Dickensian Fare & Stage based system.

The entirely desireable switch away from Cash Fare transactions can only be achieved IF central administration makes up the cash flow shortfall.....That type of thinking however is totally absent from the Irish Department of Transport.... :rolleyes:

So for now just savour the emotional angst to be seen on the Bus Platforms from tomorrow morning !!!!! :mad:

J_Dublin15

Well according to a driver on the 14A this morning, the real reason the LUAS passengers are down, is because of the fact "Passengers have seen sense and decided the bus is better than the green line"

How deluded is that? It's not as if everyone has abandoned the green line for the 14A, the journeys are just not there, not that they are switching from the green line to the 14A

Time Magazine

Victor wrote: »

Anecdotal evidence and professional opinion is otherwise.

No wai, my anecdotal evidence wins yourz.

I know it's unlikely to be published, but have you any references though?

G_R

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

Well according to a driver on the 14A this morning, the real reason the LUAS passengers are down, is because of the fact "Passengers have seen sense and decided the bus is better than the green line"

How deluded is that? It's not as if everyone has abandoned the green line for the 14A, the journeys are just not there, not that they are switching from the green line to the 14A

journeys on the green line arent down. Its the redline thats down.

Victor

The Economist wrote: »

No wai, my anecdotal evidence wins yourz.

I know it's unlikely to be published, but have you any references though?

There was an editorial in Tramways & Urban Transit over the summer, I'll see if I can dig it out.

Tramways and Urban Transit
August 2008 No. 848

---

Editorial
Howard Johnson

As road fuel prices reach record levels and talk of the 'credit crunch' is widespread (it does after all greatly help to sell more newspapers), we are all revising both our domestic spending and travel habits.

Surely this is therefore a boom time for public transport operators? Not always... as more than one UK light operator has privately volunteered.

Off-peak business has fallen away because people are not visiting city centres to casually purchase goods they can no longer afford.

In contrast, must-travel commuters sensibly leave their cars at home and use trams (and buses) to get to work. When a system is already at overload levels, this new business can be a nightmare as there is often not enough floor space on already overcrowded vehicles - and there's no spare capacity available.

Proper transport planning was never more important.

---

www.lrta.org www.tramnews.net AUGUST 2008 293

donvito99

Off topic but,

[rte.ie]

This was the pic with the passenger story, does Heuston have 4 platforms?

BrianD

donvito99 wrote: »

Off topic but,

[rte.ie]

This was the pic with the passenger story, does Heuston have 4 platforms?

Three. Trams can terminate at Heuston and remain at the stop without preventing other trams from operating up and down the line.

dfx-

And to depart from Heuston to town and take some of the pressure off trams if a train arrives in..

KC61

Passenger numbers across ALL public transport modes are down significantly. From my own observations (as a daily commuter), the numbers of foreign nationals (especially those from eastern Europe) travelling are down significantly. This would back up the reports that large numbers of these people have returned home from Ireland.

It has to be borne in mind that most of these people used public transport on a daily basis (it's second nature to them from their own countries - unlike many Irish people who, no matter how good the service is (and I accept that an acceptable service level is nowhere near universal), will insist on using their car), and their absence will have a significant impact on usage figures.

Quint

The red line is so slow it's mental. It's faster to cycle from the red cow to the city centre. Driving is about half the time, no surprise people aren't using it. There seems to be a stop every 50 meters

Victor

Quint wrote: »

The red line is so slow it's mental. It's faster to cycle from the red cow to the city centre. Driving is about half the time, no surprise people aren't using it. There seems to be a stop every 50 meters

While the changes to the Red Cow have improved things for I imagine all 3 modes, I'd love to see you get from the Red Cow to Connolly in 35 minutes in a car at rush hour.

Quint

Victor wrote: »

While the changes to the Red Cow have improved things for I imagine all 3 modes, I'd love to see you get from the Red Cow to Connolly in 35 minutes in a car at rush hour.

I go from Parkwest to city centre in well under that.