[Thomas J Stamp]

The LUAS that did the shuttle from Heuston to Connolly went back to the Red Cow depot on its rerurn, thus begging the question why it cant run all day.

Situation is that it comes in from Tallaght in the am, goes from Connolly vback to Heuston and waits. We saw a yellow jacket radio the driver to open up (it was parked in the middle platform) as soon as the Waterford train came in, suggesting there was someone else inside Heuston also on the radio informing them of the arrivial of the train.

Result was the few people who had gathered since the last LUAS hopped onto the shuttle, as the next LUAS was 2 min behind. As we pulled off the next was heading down the hill, just as a massive crowd appeared.

When we got off our half empty at Jervis we waited for the next LUAS, it was packed, surprise surprise.

Now, why couldnt they have operated the tannoy or simply shoutted that the shuttle would leave after the regular tram from Tallaght, and there was plenty of room on it, it could have gone straight after it, making use of resources the best way. Instead the shuttle was half empty, and reguar service packed to the gills.

You really do have to go out and see these things in action before you spot how a little tweak can make things better.

As for congestion charge: Heres a radical idea, if you want to get people to catch the LUAS off peak reduce the off peak fare, dont raise the peak fare b y such a small amount that it wouldnt detare anyone. Otherwise it just looks liek a cheap way of scamming money.