[March 2012] Luas Red Line - Service has resumed
 

19:00
 

Sunday 18 March 2012
 

It is unclear if there will be Luas Red Line services between Blackhorse and The Point on bank holiday Monday. Keep an eye on http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates for details.

It is the end of terrace building, with the red brick front here: http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Benburb...52.04,,0,-6.68 that is the problem. During / after the fire part of the roof collapsed, forcing our the gable wall. There is also signs of a 'belly' in the front wall (now not supported by the gable wall), which if there was further subsidence, would risk falling out onto the street.

The adjacent buildings are showing their age, so the risk is that there would be a sympathetic collapse of several buildings. Structural steel was being fitted on Sunday afternoon to stabilise the building. Depending on the exact condition of the building and how work proceeds, Luas should be open on Tuesday, but Monday is less certain.

Some photos.

Monday 19 March 2012
 

Is the Docklands extension running?

It seems no. Nothing between Blackhorse-Connolly/The Point.

Monday 19 March 2012 - including information for Tuesday
 

So sanity has returned to Veolia, and they will run the service to/from Heuston. Which begs the question, why wasn't it done beforehand?

Its messy as hell

Tram arrives into Heuston goes out onto the bridge, reverses into the centre platform and then goes back out onto the bridge and then finally goes in the right direction

5 minute job max.

Since the disruption began, there's been more seats than passengers on the Luas at all times. They can't allow that situation to continue for much longer. Running the service to/from Heuston will get double the current amount of passengers, and at least ease the financial hit a bit.

From what I recall of the RPA's presentation to Engineers Ireland, the trams could have escaped to Line BX and thereby either Sandyford or Broombridge depots but would not have been able to loop back onto C/C1.

Tuesday 20 March 2012
 

They don't know yet if the problem will be hours or days. Hopefully some news by lunchtime.

Photo from Luas website: http://www.luas.ie/assets/graphics/T...0032012321.jpg

Wednesday 21 March 2012
 

Wednesday 21 March & Thursday 22 March 2012
 

Dublin Bus - Shuttle Service From Heuston
 

Thursday 22 March 2012
 

I think LUAS should consider taking an interest in any other derelict buildings along the route! Has any info come to hand about who owns that building and whether any relief could be sought against them for the disruption caused?

Thursday 22 March to Saturday 24 March 2012
 

The Number 1 priority of any rail network anywhere in the world is to provide affordable, frequent, fast, and convenient transport for passengers. If it's not doing that, people will use other forms of transport to get around. There is risk to everything, and if safety was the priority, then the safest way is to not operate the service at all, then there's no risk, no cost, and no harm done.

I said it before it was constructed, this thing should have been put underground, especially in the city centre, so the number of incidents and disruptions would be all but eliminated, and you could get from one end of the city to the other in half the time it takes the Luas to now.

It could be a number of weeks at least before the service is fully resumed. From those photos and it's proximity to the line, that looks a long finger job to me. That's a lot of income lost, which will probably be cited as another excuse to justify next January's fare increase. :rolleyes:

Nope. That hasn't been the case since insurance plaintiff lawyers got a collective hold on Irish corporate balls.

Saturday 24 March 2012
 

Services have resumed
 

So the service has resumed today. If they really wanted to thank passengers, they would have made travelling for the rest of the day free, as a goodwill gesture.

I don't think a system losing money (as LUAS is now) can afford that kind of gesture not least when it wasn't their property which caused the disruption.

Full Luas red line services resume
 

It's a goodwill gesture, not a money-making exercise. And the passenger numbers are lower on Saturdays anyway. The passengers who had to find lifts, buses, taxis etc over the past week in place of the Luas have earned some form of gratitude for their patience and perseverance.

Again, if it was LUAS's fault - faulty overhead or track - I'd absolutely agree with you. However, LUAS was prevented from operating a service by the local authority. If DCC want to make a payment to LUAS in restitution, by all means operate free service.