LUAS Backup Plans.

AlekSmart · 19-06-2017 2:24pm #1

One of the recurrent issues for a non-Rail inclined person such as myself,is how the LUAS system copes with breakdowns and in-service disruption.

This morning,for example,there was a Overhead Line issue on the Red Line,immediately outside The Ashling Hotel.

I was somewhat surprised that inbound Red Line services were curtailed to Blackhorse stop. (I'm not aware of the Southbound curtailment)

I accept this could be due to Overhead Line power-supply issues as well as Switchback availability,but I am suggesting that for an occurence such as this,the level of service disruptionis excessive.

It appears to be a feature of LUAS,that switchback facilities are few,and that capability to isolate small sections of overhead power are also fewer than might be considered appropriate.

I would,of course,suggest that the usual anouncement that tickets are valid on Dublin-Bus services may be somewhat aspirational,given that the current situation on Bus Routes parallelling the Red Line is far from ideal,post Network Direct.

Comments,anybody ?

dazberry · 19-06-2017 3:37pm

AlekSmart wrote: »

It appears to be a feature of LUAS,that switchback facilities are few,and that capability to isolate small sections of overhead power are also fewer than might be considered appropriate.

This would appear to be the case, possibly the overhead sections and where the switchback points are - are somewhat related - but I've always though it was crazy to dump people out at Blackhorse (an hours walk from the city center) and expect the likes of the 13 to pick up the pieces. Today's issue not withstanding - I would like to see Heuston reconfigured to allow turn back of in-bound services, atleast if you can get people in that far - they have a few more options.

howiya · 20-06-2017 12:41am

A few weeks ago I was on an inbound Luas at Belgard when an inbound tram had broken down further ahead on the line.

The driver was told to hold the tram and announce that tickets were valid on Dublin Bus. The only bus towards the city centre that serves the Belgard area only runs every hour and fifteen minutes. Obviously you could go the other way and head for the Square to catch a bus if you had to.

Breakdowns happen, its the nature of the business but there doesn't seem to be much of a back up plan.

How does the Luas tickets are valid work with a Leap Card? Does the bus driver just waive you on if you flash your Leap Card and tell him you were on the Luas?

XPS_Zero · 20-06-2017 9:29pm

Are there points on the Luas track, as there are in rail, passing points where one tram and temporarily intrude on the other directions line then overtake a broken down one by going over again to the right side?

lucernarian · 20-06-2017 9:31pm

I didn't think Dublin Bus accepted Luas tickets on any services no matter what the circumstances were.

Jamie2k9 · 20-06-2017 10:53pm

If they removed the buffer on the bay platform in Heuston and had a connection outbound towards Tallaght trams could run over the bridge on the main track and return outbound via the bay platform as the crossover is in place. Allowing reverse signal over the bridge shouldn't be a problem.

howiya · 20-06-2017 10:57pm

lucernarian wrote: »

I didn't think Dublin Bus accepted Luas tickets on any services no matter what the circumstances were.

I think there's an arrangement in place for when services are disrupted due to faults. Here's an article from the day I was referring to.
http://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/tram-failure-leads-major-suspension-13073118