The company that operates the Luas system today refused to comment on a claim by the head of CIÉ that the Dublin Bus involved in a collision with a Luas yesterday had a green light at the time.
Three separate investigations have begun into yesterday afternoon's crash which left at least 21 people injured.
The Luas driver and two bus passengers were seriously injured in the incident at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street in which the Luas crashed into the side of a No 16 bus travelling toward Santry. The Luas was derailed.
Separate investigations into the incident are being carried out by gardaí, Dublin Bus and Veolia. The Railway Safety Commission said it was assisting the Gardaí in their inquiry.
CIÉ chairman Dr John Lynch told reporters today he had viewed CCTV footage of the incident and it "clearly" showed the bus involved in the crash had a green light. "Obviously, there has to be an investigation," he said. "But indications we have are fairly clear the driver had a green light."
Asked if he was surprised the accident could have happened Dr Lynch said: "It's a fairly wide road on both sides it had to be something very unusual and certainly all I can say is having looked at it yesterday and having the CCTV it's fairly clear there was a green light. What can a driver do if he has a green light except go through?"
In a statement this afternoon, Veolia Transport said it would not be commenting on Dr Lynch's remarks.
"Veolia Transport is conducting its own investigation and is fully cooperating with the Garda investigation which is still ongoing," it said. "Veolia Transport has been advised by the Gardaí not to comment on this investigation whilst it is ongoing."
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash. "It was pretty horrific looking and an incident that we don't want to see repeated."
Mr Dempsey said he did not wish to speculate on the cause of the crash pending the outcome of an inquiry. "I think in an incident like this we need to look at all aspects of it and if there is any question about lights or priorities or anything else that needs to be looked at, everything will be looked at," he said. "We need to find out the causes first of all and then try to ensure it doesn't happen again."
A total of 21 people attended the Mater hospital yesterday. One person remains at the hospital today, while a second - a young woman student - was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where she is in a serious condition. She was a passenger on the bus. A further two people are in a stable condition at St James's Hospital today.
A number of people who had been left trapped on the bus had to be cut free from the wreckage by members of Dublin City Fire Brigade.
One witness said yesterday it appeared the bus had been forced to stop in the junction by several pedestrians crossing in front of it just before the crash. A number of witnesses who contacted
The Irish Timessaid several Garda cars had crossed O'Connell Street at speed at the Abbey Street junction along the Luas tracks moments before the crash.
Gardaí said today the circumstances of the crash were under investigation. A Garda spokesman appealed for witnesses to contact them, adding that it is believed a number of passengers on the bus and the tram may have left the scene before emergency services arrived.
The Luas Red Line is operating a limited service between Tallaght and Smithfield stops only today. However Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus.
O'Connell St was closed northbound this morning with Dublin Bus services diverting via Gardiner Street. However, the road has now reopened to traffic.
Since the Luas light rail tram system was introduced in 2004, there have been 13 minor road traffic incidents, 12 incidents which involved “minor contact” with pedestrians and two derailments, one of which occurred as a result of yesterday’s collision. The only fatality was a pedestrian in his 50s who was knocked down by a tram in Tallaght in February 2008.