Luas extension to add 2m journeys

The new Luas extension in west Tallaght is expected to add some two million passenger journeys per year to the network when it opens this summer.

The 4.2km extension, which leaves the existing track at Belgard, will serve Fettercairn, Cheeverstown, Citywest, Fortunestown and Saggart close to the border with Co Kildare.

The route is scheduled to be open by the end of July. Journey times from Saggart to the city centre will be about 55 minutes. The cost of the route was €150 million, about 55 per cent of which is to be contributed by private sector land owners in the area.

Frequency on the new extension is to be one tram every 10 minutes at peak times, while the frequency from the existing stops on the Tallaght branch is to be one every six minutes. The Railway Procurement Agency, which is developing the line, said significant interest had come from commuters in the Naas, Co Kildare area.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, who attended a tram test on the route today,. The line is likely to be the last Luas extension to be opened for some time as Mr Varadkar said just one of the three ‘big ticket’ transport projects - Metro North, Dart Underground and the Luas city centre link will go ahead in the next five years.

While he said a decision on which projects would proceed would not be made before September, the Minister described the case for Metro North as very strong.

“It is not just a train line to the airport. It goes to Swords, it links up the Maynooth-Connolly line, it links up the Luas, it serves DCU, it serves the Mater,” he said.

Mr Varadkar also said he had already directed that funds not used by the National Roads Authority this year should be used to repair damaged secondary, regional and local roads. This would, he said, result in “hundreds of contracts this year.