LUAS Network + Future Expansion

I couldn't put it better than BK if I tried. Frequency can't be increased without some major upgrades first so there is no "shorter trams but higher frequency" just lower frequency. But also an important point people keep missing, our tram system isn't X countries tram system. The best vehicle for our tram system is the one that fits our tram system's design. Ours is designed around long high capacity and high frequency trams, and large portions of our system are grade separated because of it. So that's what we buy, like other's have said it is more of a metro-lite or RT-lite than it is like many other countries' tram systems.

Ah that makes more sense. I was wondering how they would get the green line to 30tph without bringing the red line to a standstill at Abbey street. I do wonder how that is going to work though, from my memory SSG was always one of the busiest stops. I suppose if it is just a few extra trams and they aren't replacing existing Broombridge or Parnell services it can only increase capacity? At the very least it should decrease journey times between Sandyford and Charlemont, and help prepare the line for the metro upgrade if it ever happens.

Parts of Green can easily handle 30tph, but the central section definitely cannot. But - and I promise this is the last time I’ll harp on about my idea for new short segments - one way to address the capacity mismatch in the medium term (i.e., until Metro subsumes the Harcourt St Line section of Green) would be to provide multiple routes for Green trams through the city centre: the alternative is for many of the trams along the faster stretches to stop at the edge of the slower city centre stretch, which is much less useful when a large number of passengers probably wanted to cross the Liffey as part of their journey.

That's true, in that case I guess we can really hope ML breaks ground sooner than later, and that some design for the Sandyford-Ranelagh metro upgrade/tie-in is pushed forward (where has that plan even gone?)? A replacement allignment from Harcourt to Sandyford would be required, I think the 2042 plan mentioned an allignment around UCD. Plus the metro-upgrade ever happens it might even be possible to reclaim the old allignment between Sandyford and Carrickmines and continue the metro upgrade through Bride's Glen.

Maybe but I don't think it makes a ton of sense to have all the lines funnel together only after it passes the highest density areas. I think it makes more sense to continue work on the ML-Green line tie-in to take full advantage of the capacity along the line, or just work on ways to increase capacity for other sections of the line.

thats probably for the best. if we get a new allignment before work starts, than at least the green line doesn't have to shut down, just that section, which with how vital it is and still will be during the ML-green line connection, it probably isn't the best idea to completely shut down that line for potentially multiple years.

I'm hoping for even more, I think what we should be aiming to do when the metro is built is to keep the contractors working on the second metro, and so on for the third metro etc. That will be a lot cheaper in the long run than stoping and then starting again years later.

The bridge at New Ross is epic. On a lesser scale the extra runway at the airport, neither public transport obviously.

COVID and WFH are the only reason it currently isn't over capacity. Its managing for now but its often packed tram after packed tram, and as the city grows its going to be over capacity within the next few years without improvements. If the gov decided over night to immediately start building tram line after tram line, its still going to be more than a decade before we start to see improvements on that corridor, as priority will go to areas without a tram system. Even in the best case scenario the green line is going to need capacity improvement before another line/system is able to increase capacity.

Also the massive benefit of the metro extension is we have an old heavy rail allignment that is mostly segregated and is capable of a higher capacity than what a tram system is normally designed for. It doesn't make sense to not convert it to a metro and reroute the green line where it isn't possible to send a metro. It would allow for the area to grow more in the future as the public transport system will have the capacity for it.

That's not quite true.

The longer trams have made a massive difference.

Also, the alternating service pattern of Broombridge-Sandyford and Parnell-Brides Glen ensures that there is more than sufficient capacity on the core section between the city centre and Sandyford.