‘No demand’ for late night Red Line services, says Luas

Luas operators have reiterated their view there is no demand for late-night services on the Red Line.

Transdev said the last time they ran the service on the Red Line was in 2009.

From Friday night, Luas will operate services on the Green Line from St Stephen’s Green to Brides Glen every half hour from 1am until 3.30am.

However, no similar service will operate on the Red Line from The Point to Tallaght. Trams will stop at the normal time of 12.30am.

Dublin City Council south central area committee condemned the removal of the night Luas at their November meeting and said citizens should have equal transport public services, regardless of their destination.

The committee requested that the area manager for Dublin City Council write to the Luas chief executive asking for the restoration of the night Luas at Christmas time on the Red Line.

‘No demand’

However, a Luas spokeswoman said there was "no demand for the services" and that the decision was made in consultation with the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA).

She rejected suggestions the Luas would not run a late night Red Line service because of any perception of more anti-social incidents on that line.

“We totally and utterly disagree with that. It goes back to the fact that there is no demand for services.”

Socialist TD Joan Collins, who represents the Dublin South Central constituency, requested that Luas change its policy in relation to the Red Line.

“We have the right to be treated the same way as people on the southside. If they don’t reconsider it, we’ll launch a campaign to get it reinstated through the council.”