Green Line extension opening

[Mickey H]

Can anybody confirm or deny the report on another forum that this will open on October 16th?

Northing on either www.luas.ie or www.rpa.ie

[Mark Gleeson]

It will certainly be October

Even the RPA don't know its dependent on getting the safety approvals. Bear in mind the Green Luas received safety approval at the very last minute literally the night before.

I wouldn't really bet on a weekend opening, Luas always opened mid week as did the DART

Free travel between Sandyford and Cherrywood is likely

[Colm Moore]

E-mail sent and sure enough.

http://www.luas.ie/page.php?name=Blank

http://www.luas.ie/ul/Treasure%20Hun...Event%20DL.pdf

[img]
http://www.luas.ie/ul/Get%20it%20campaign_web%20image%2099x120.jpg[/img]

Luas Cherrywood, the extension of Luas Green Line from Sandyford to Brides Glen, opens on Saturday the 16th of October at 11am.



To celebrate the opening of the Luas Cherrywood extension, Luas invites you to enjoy and explore your new line with free travel on Luas Green Line on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October.

Join in the Fun Free Family Day on Saturday with lots of Free Events taking place from 11am at several locations along the Green Line.
The Brides Glen Terminus is a hive of activity, so come along and explore the whole line! Check out the full events calendar below.

Enter the Luas Treasure Hunt on Saturday and Sunday for your chance to win fabulous prizes!

Click here to download the Free Event Brochure and Treasure Hunt entry form. http://www.luas.ie/ul/Treasure%20Hun...Event%20DL.pdf


How to Take Part:
Take the Treasure Hunt entry form with you. Hop on a free Luas. Go to the 8 treasure hunt stops. The clues will be posted on the Luas stop shelters. Write your answers on the Entry Form page. Send your completed Entry Form Freepost to Luas Customer Care at the address listed on the form. Don’t forget your contact details!

Prizes:
Over €8,000 worth of prizes to be WON! 5 All Zones Annual Tickets, 5 Wii Consoles, 15 All Zones 30 Day Luas ticket and 100 Luas Smart Cards. All correct entries will be entered into a draw for these valuable prizes.

Click here to download the terms & conditions of entry. http://www.luas.ie/ul/100920%20Treas...Hunt%20TCs.pdf


SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 2010

Free Luas Green Line Travel All Day
At Luas we want you to explore the new Cherrywood Line. Travel is free on the Green Line all day Saturday 16th October 2010.

Free Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt Clues are at 8 Green Line Luas Stops.

Free Events on the Green Line start at 11am.


FREE EVENTS CALENDAR



ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Board an Original Vintage Tram. The Dublin open-front tram (1896 - 1920) will be at St Stephen’s Green Luas stop so you can compare what tram travel used to be like in the 19th Century.
• Join MaSamba at the St. Stephens Green Luas stop and feel the pulsating rhythm of Carnival. MaSamba is Ireland's premier street drumming group. They will get you in the mood to explore the new line.
• Get your Face Painted to start your journey on the Green Line.


BALALLY LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Make a date with Flip Flop performed by the Mill Theatre. It promises to be the flippiest floppiest ever. Performances start at 11am, 1pm and 1pm.
• Watch the performances in style and get your Face Painted while you wait.



SANDYFORD LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location
• The Junk Orchestra musicians play unique instruments made from everyday objects that were abandoned or discarded. Watch this awesome green sound machine perform.
• Make Your Own Instrument. The Junk Orchestra Musicians will teach you how you can make your own instrument during regular sessions.



CENTRAL PARK LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Watch Street Performer Jack Flash juggle.



LEOPARDSTOWN VALLEY LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Art Jam offers everyone the chance to explore their creative side, giving participants the chance to go back to their childhood and forget about the stresses of everyday life for a couple of hours.
• Paint Your Own Canvas or join the Giant Luas Canvas. Sessions start every hour, on the hour from 11am to 5pm



CARRICKMINES LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Our Story Teller brings a mix of magical and wonderful tales for all ages. Ten minute sessions run throughout the day. Sessions start at 11.20am and run every half hour thereafter until 5.50pm
• Learn to Drum and work on your rhythms on the spot! 30 minute Drumming workshops will take place every hour throughout the day. Sessions start every hour, on the hour from 11am to 5pm.

• Come along to learn how to Make Your Own Lantern for Halloween! The lantern making workshops of 30 minutes will take place throughout the day. Session start at 11:30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm.


LAUGHANSTOWN LUAS STOP
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• There is a Moose on the Loose on Luas. Can you help us find him?
• Join Pat Liddy at 12.00pm, 2pm or 4pm for a historic walk. Duration of walk is approximately 40 minutes. This is an outdoor event, so please dress appropriately.


BRIDES GLEN LUAS TERMINUS
• Treasure Hunt Clue Location.
• Bring your Teddy Bear out for a picnic. At the Teddy Bear Clinic your old, ill or torn teddy bears and dolls will be mended and loved back to health.
• Bring your old toys and swap them for someone else’s toys. Make new friends at the Toy Swap Shop.
• Bring an item of clothing and get advice on how to give it a new life. Come to the Re-dress Sustainable Fashion workshop and learn about basic alterations; sewing buttons, seams and hems.
• Watch the every successful Fringe Festival show “Escape from the Dead Zoo” is coming to Brides Glen. Performed will take place at 2pm and 4pm.
• Learn how to Repair Your Bicycle and about safe cycling. Amazing bikes on display which can be tested too.
• Hungry? Get some food at the Organic Market.
• Sample from a tantalising array of teas from all over the world in our Organic Tea House.
• Get on your dancing shoes and boogie the day away at our Kids Disco in Brides Glen, a great way to get out and have some family fun together.
• Free yummy milkshakes! Our Milkshake Mixmaster will be on hand all day creating fabulously fruity milkshakes.


SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 2010

Free Luas Green Line Travel All Day
At Luas we want you to explore the new Cherrywood Line. Travel is free on the Green Line all day Sunday 17th October 2010.

Free Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt Clues are at 8 Green Line Luas Stops.

[fat controller]

Originally Posted by Colm Moore

E-mail sent and sure enough.

http://www.luas.ie/page.php?name=Blank

what are they doing at the two ghost stop's????

[Colm Moore]

I imagine the have just platforms in place with no shelters, seats, signage, ticket machines, etc. They serve nobody, so there is no loss.

The Racecourse stop was only ever going to be used on race days, possibly with shuttle buses to the main stand area, but its a shorter walk from Sandyford stop and a cheaper fare from the city (one less zone).

Brennanstown is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.luas.ie/luas-cherrywood-o...and-fares.html

Luas Cherrywood Travel Information: FAQ's, Operating Hours, Frequency, Stops & Zones and Fares

Luas Cherrywood is the 7.5km extension of the Luas Green Line (St. Stephen’s Green to Sandyford) to Bride’s Glen. Passenger services will start Saturday October 16th at 11.00am. Luas Cherrywood will serve 9 new Luas Stops located at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Brides Glen. Racecourse and Brennanstown are two future Stops.

New Green Line Operating Hours, Frequency of Service and Fares will come into effect from Saturday October 16th at 11.00am.

To celebrate the launch of Luas Cherrywood, all Green Line Luas travel including the new Cherrywood Extension will be free to all for the entire weekend and in addition there will be a range of family friendly free activities along the Luas Green Line on Saturday October 16th.


* Information Leaflet including Operating Hours & Frequency & Fares, click here to read or download
* Map of Luas Cherrywood, click here to read or download
* Green Line extension, Luas Cherrywood (Line B1), Click here for more information
* Luas Cherrywood (Line B1) Construction Update No.29, Click here to view or download.
* Please click here for frequently asked questions on the Brides Glen Extension.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/homepage/i...?ts=1287231318

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1016/luas.html

Luas Green Line extension opens

An extension to the Luas Green Line at Cherrywood in south County Dublin has been officially opened by the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.

The new 7.5km line cost €300m to build and is expected to add over two million passenger journeys a year to the tram network.

There are now nine new stops on the line.

They are at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Bride's Glen.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...breaking3.html

New Luas line extension opens

The new Luas Green Line extension was officially opened to the public by Taoiseach Brian Cowen this morning.

The 7.5km extension will serve 11 new stops to Cherrywood and Brides Glen. The average journey time from St Stephen’s Green will be 40 minutes.

To celebrate the opening, the Railway Procurement Agency is offering free travel on the entire Green Line over the weekend and “family-style fun”, face painting and treasure hunts are to be held at various stops along the route.

At the opening this morning, the Taoiseach said the Government’s transport programme would contribute to economic recovery, support employment, deliver important social infrastructure and assist the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“This new extension of the Green Luas Line is a further development in our infrastructure investment programme which offers sustainable public transport and paves the way for the creation of a fully integrated network,” said Mr Cowen.

He said the Government aims to increase Luas passenger numbers to 42 million by 2016.

RPA chief executive Frank Allen said the extension was a major milestone in developing an integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area. “Luas passenger numbers are showing a strong recovery with Red Line passengers increasing by more than 10 per cent in June to October 2010 compared with the same period in 2009,” he added.

The new extension will serve nine new locations at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Brides Glen. Racecourse and Brennanstown are two future stops.

The agency said additional trams will be deployed to cope with the extra number of passengers expected to use the line. Service frequency will rise from one tram every 4½ minutes, to one every 3½ minutes, between Sandyford and St Stephen’s Green.

Most trams will continue to run only between Sandyford and St Stephen’s Green, with just one in every three trams in the morning peak serving the €300 million extension.

This will give a morning peak frequency of about one tram every 10½ minutes on the Sandyford to Cherrywood section of the line.

[Eddie]

Today's well publicised opening of the Luas extension to the Green Line will certainly be thought a success by the operating company. The crowds on each of the 7 minutely trams from Brides Glen are confirmation of how the public will use a comfortable frequent form of transport.

It is utterly unbelievable that no P&R facilities exist anywhere on the extension. Today, hundreds of cars were parked in the Dell car park in Cherrywood. Where are they going to go from Monday? Clamping will be in operation all around Cherrywood from Monday to those parked illegally and many will have a rude start to the first day of the Luas's operation. They will probably not use it again because alternative public transport to Cherrywood is practically non-existent.

Dublin bus have an hourly number 7 that stops about 400m from Brides Glen. The 145, with a 10 minute frequency, stops a further 400m away on the Loughlinstown flyover. And then there's the matter of luas travellers crossing the 6 lane motorway. When will the first pedestrian be hit crossing the road? I have not yet seen a new route 84 anywhere near Cherrywood. The 63 I understand passes another luas stop with a 45 minute frequency. Who's going to hang around for the next bus? No-one.

This was all so completely unavoidable.

I understand from a luas represenative at Brides Glen that they presume / hope it would become a "drop-off" point.

It almost makes you want to become a councillor and try and ensure this kind of stuff doesn't happen...

Why haven't the different bodies been talking to each other?

[Colm Moore]

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...m-2383739.html

All aboard for fun day out on the Luas
FIONA GARTLAND

MOST OF the people on the 1st Luas from St Stephen’s Green, Dublin to Bride’s Glen on Saturday morning didn’t know anything about where they were going and didn’t much care.

They were there for the free fun of it; for the outing, the purple balloons and sharp pencils, the face painting, the treasure hunt, the hotdogs and the samba music. Most of all, they were there to say they were there.

The politicians and officials had taken the official inaugural trip on the Luas Green Line extension to Bride’s Glen. But they started out at Central Park, the first station of the extension, so they missed out on the free sausages.

The first tram left the green shortly after 11am. John Beirne from Stillorgan was onboard, but bought a ticket instead of taking advantage of the free fare. He hoped he was the first to pay for a tram ride to the new terminus.

Anne Moran and Ultan Dillon said they didn’t know where Bride’s Glen was. They’d travelled in from Sallins, Co Kildare, just to try out the new route with their two young children.

We passed through all the familiar, taken-for-granted stations; Harcourt, Ranelagh, Windy Arbour. At each stop more people got on. Buggies crammed in together, parents swung from the purple plastic straps and children held tight to legs and yellow poles, steadying themselves against the gentle sway of the tram. There were occasional pops and cries of distress as toddlers did the inevitable with those free balloons and pencils.

Ray Reynolds, with wife Darina and son Max from Ballinteer, said he was a daily Luas commuter. He hoped the tram wouldn’t be too packed on Monday morning by the time it reached him at Balally. No one paid much attention to the view until we got beyond Sandyford. “Look, its Central Park – no not like on the telly,” one mother told her child. The station looked like a work in progress. Then on to Glencairn and past the wrought iron gates of Glencairn House, the British ambassador’s residence.

At The Gallops, people embarked from Meadowfield Estate and Elmfield.Then past Leopardstown Park, Ballyogan Wood and Carrickmines with intermittent housing, trees and fields. We did not stop at Brennanstown, a ghost station on the line not served because of insufficient development in the area. At rural Laughanstown, no one got on or off.

Then the Cherrywood Science and Technology Park, close to the N11, came into sight all glass, steel and concrete. Everyone got off at Bride’s Glen, built on a raised area at the southern end of the technology park.

At the terminus, Minister for Planning, Ciarán Cuffe was listening to some unhappy travellers. They couldn’t believe the station was opened without a car park. The only facilities were for permit holders from Dell, Microsoft and other companies in the development and signs everywhere warned that cars left on the narrow roads in the park would incur a €120 de-clamping fee. The nearest park and ride was back at Sandyford.

Daisy Corrie from nearby Rathmichael was exasperated. “How stupid is it to put in this great facility with no where to park?” she asked.

Mr Cuffe explained the land around the station, where the park and ride was to be built, had been Nama’d. He defended the decision to open without parking.

“We have the horse ready and waiting before the cart for a change,” he said.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rpa.ie/en/news/Pages/1000...eeWeekend.aspx

Home > English > News > 100000 Passengers on Luas Free Weekend
100000 Passengers on Luas Free Weekend

100,000 Passengers on Luas Free Weekend

The Railway Procurement Agency has confirmed that 100,000 passengers were carried over the weekend on the free Luas Green Line service which was laid on to mark the opening of the Cherrywood extension. A range of free activities proved highly popular with many thousands of people enjoying a range of free family focussed events ranging from samba bands to walking tours, farmers markets and a wide range of attractions for younger children.

http://www.rpa.ie/PublishingImages/L..._On_Lu as.jpg

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D. officially opened the new Luas Cherrywood (Line B1) extension on Saturday and the line has gone into commercial service today, 18th October 2010.

It is expected that the new 7.5 km line will add over 2 million passenger journeys a year to the Luas network and is a key component of the Government’s Transport 21 investment programme. The cost of the Cherrywood extension is less than €300million and the project was completed under budget and ahead of schedule.

There are 9 new Stops on the line at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Brides Glen. There are also two future stops: Racecourse and Brennanstown. These two stops will open for passenger service in advance of development in their immediate catchment area.

Journey time from Brides Glen to Saint Stephen’s Green is less than 40 minutes.

Click here to view or download 100,000 Passengers on Luas Free Weekend Press Release

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rpa.ie/en/news/Pages/Luas...oodLaunch.aspx

Home > English > News > Luas Cherrywood Launch
Luas Cherrywood Launch
Luas Cherrywood LAUNCH

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D.officially opened the new Luas Cherrywood (Line B1) extension today (October 16th, 2010). The official opening was also attended by the Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr Lettie McCarthy, local representatives, local residents, RPA’s private sector partners and other key stakeholders. The opening event was held in the Treasury Holdings Central Park Building which is adjacent to the new Luas Central Park Stop.

http://www.rpa.ie/PublishingImages/L...ood_Launch.jpg

RPA submitted a Railway Order Application for this project in November 2005 which was followed by a Public Inquiry in March 2006. This Order became effective in January 2007 and construction work started shortly thereafter. RPA is pleased to note that the new line has been delivered within the agreed timeframe and within budget.

It is expected that the new 7.5 km line will add over 2 million passenger journeys a year to the Luas network and is a key component of the Government’s Transport 21 investment programme. The cost of the Cherrywood extension is less than €300million and the main infrastructure contractors were the international consortium Sacyr Bowen Somague; utility diversion works for the project and construction of the Ballyogan Road were carried out by SIAC and bridge construction was by Laing O’Rourke. Luas Cherrywood has been included in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council development plan for some time and the Council was a partner in delivering the project. RPA also entered into direct agreements with a number of private sector developers.

There are 9 new Stops on the line at Central Park, Glencairn, The Gallops, Leopardstown Valley, Ballyogan Wood, Carrickmines, Laughanstown, Cherrywood and Brides Glen. There are also two future stops: Racecourse and Brennanstown. These two stops will open for passenger service in advance of development in their immediate catchment area.

Journey time from Brides Glen to Saint Stephen’s Green is less than 40 minutes.

Welcoming the opening of the Luas extension to Cherrywood, the Taoiseach said "This new extension of the Green Luas Line is a further development in our infrastructure investment programme which offers sustainable public transport and paves the way for the creation of a fully integrated network. The Government’s Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016 sets out a comprehensive transport programme which aims to increase Luas passenger numbers to 42 million by 2016. This programme will contribute to economic recovery, support employment, deliver important social infrastructure, and assist the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

RPA Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Allen said that this was a major milestone in developing an integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area and will add to the competitiveness of business parks in, Central Park, Carrickmines and Cherrywood. He noted that Luas passenger numbers are showing a strong recovery with Red Line passengers increasing by more than 10% in June to October 2010 compared with the same period in 2009.

Click here to view or download Luas Cherrywood Launch Press Release

Click here for more information on Luas Cherrywood Launch Events

Click here for more information on development of Luas Cherrywood

[Colm Moore]

http://www.rpa.ie/en/rpa/archaeology...herrywood.aspx

Home > English > Railway Procurement Agency > Archaeology > Luas Cherrywood
Luas Cherrywood
Luas Cherrywood Finds and Discoveries
Completed Archaeological Investigations:

A considerable amount of archaeological investigation was carried out prior to and during the construction of Luas Cherrywood providing a unique opportunity to gain further insight into this area’s past. Archaeological works that took place included a geophysical survey, advance archaeological test trenching, archaeological excavation and archaeological monitoring. These works revealed 3 new significant archaeological sites.

A prehistoric habitation site was identified at Brennanstown which produced numerous fragments of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery and stone tools. In the townland of Laughanstown another prehistoric habitation site was revealed producing similar pottery to the Brennanstown site. Stone tools such as a stone axe butt and a small rubbing stone were also recovered.

http://www.rpa.ie/PublishingImages/C...hanst own.jpg

Radiocarbon dates obtained from this site in Laughanstown suggest it was occupied sometime during the Bronze Age and Iron Age as well. Evidence of 18th century military activity associated with a nearby historic military camp was also identified. In Murphystown a medieval quarrying site was identified in the vicinity of the ruins of Murphystown Castle. Archaeological excavation at these sites was carried out by CRDS Ltd on behalf of RPA.

http://www.rpa.ie/PublishingImages/C...th_Century.jpg

If you are interested in learning more about RPA archaeology finds and discoveries on Luas Cherrywood (Line B1) please click here to view or download the Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Brochure. You can also get a copy of the professional reports we have available by clicking on the links below.

1 Luas Cherrywood Geophysical Survey Report Laughanstown
2 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Ballyogan Temporary Works Compound
3 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Brennanstown Site 2
4 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Brennanstown Site 3A and 3B
5 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Murphystown
6 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Laughanstown
7 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Monitoring Report
8 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Monitoring Report Priorsland Glenamuck Road Brennanstown
9 Luas Cherrywood Archaeological Testing Report Priorsland Brennanstown
10 Luas Cherrywood Final Archaeological Excavation Report Murphystown
11 Luas Cherrywood Final Archaeological Excavation Report Laughanstown
12 Luas Cherrywood Metal Detection Report Laughanstown

Current and proposed archaeological investigations:

Archaeological investigations are complete for Luas Cherrywood (Line B1) and there are currently no further investigations planned.

All reports detailed above are also available by post, please Contact Us to submit a request for the report you require.

Click here to view or download Luas Cherrywood Archaeology Brochure

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...281825646.html

Plain sailing for official Luas opening

Last Saturday’s official opening of the Luas Cherrywood extension was a surreal affair, by all accounts. The extension – two stops of which won’t open because development never took place – was launched by the Taoiseach in an unfinished building belonging to Treasury Holdings. So in a way, Biffo was a guest of Nama.

In the grey gloom of this shell, he joked it was “pitch dark” and he couldn’t read his speech, although a couple of lights had been hastily strung up behind him. There was no ceiling.

Ciarán Cuffe of the Greens was doing his Kennedy-esque best “I want to speak to you of the past, the present and the future,” he trilled. The tram took off on a rollicking jaunt through unfinished apartment blocks and weed-strewn industrial sites, trundling past the gates of the British Ambassador’s house.

“How does he get out?” wondered the Biff.

There was a hairy moment on the platform after the speeches.

The Taoiseach emerged just as the brass band were getting stuck into a spirited rendition of “What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? (early in the morning).” His handler nearly fainted.