LUAS Network + Future Expansion

Hi @OisinCooke thanks, yes this would be a better place to discuss this proposal and the general concept of use LRT for longer distance commuter type services.

I realise this might be a surprising idea for many people, I think most of us in Ireland, myself included until a few months ago, would have the idea that trams/lrt/Luas are only suited to shorter distance urban transport. However it turns out LRT is used very successfully for longer distance commuter services in many countries like Denmark, Germany, Porto and even in regional Paris!

I first came across this idea on a YouTube channel about the Aarhus Light Rail system in Denmark. It is a 110km light rail network. They use 70km/h trams in urban Aarhus, but then they also use higher spec 100km/h trams with more seating and more comfortable seats, etc. on routes that reach deep into the surrounding countryside to connect distant commuter towns outside the city. Line 1 is 69km long!

And it is a very popular and successful system.

The advantage is that light rail is typically cheaper to build then new heavy rail, lighter structures, no signalling, no need for level crossings (though obviously you want to limit crossings for speed) or big expensive stations with lifts and over passes, etc. so much cheaper to build.

But the other big advantage which Oisin mentioned is how they can penetrate into towns by street running. It is much easier to run a tram on the town streets so it can go right into the center of a town and have multiple stops across the town.

This can be an issue for heavy rail where it would be too expensive and disruptive to build a new line into a center of a town, so instead they have to build it on the outskirts of the town. But then that leads to complaints about accessibility. Trams can help solve this by bringing people where they want to go and make feeder buses, park and rides, etc. unnecessary.

A nice combination of slower street running in the towns and city center, but then high speeds through the countryside in between.

Just to say I’m not suggesting this idea instead of heavy rail where that makes sense, like I wouldn’t suggest it for the Navan line or anything like that. But for brand new lines with no existing heavy rail infrastructure, I think it is a great option to consider.

Ashbourne is an obvious contender for such an idea as the end of the Finglas Luas will be right there, just need to cross the M50 and through fields, shouldn’t be a big job. I do think potential for one or two SDZ’s along the way too.

But I think this idea could also work elsewhere in the country, Carrigaline in Cork, perhaps it could even possibly be extended to Kinsale! Might it even be an option for West Cork!

Perhaps food for thought.