Luas Q & A: what you need to know: Travel information on routes, fares and times for passengers on the new light rail system starting today.
When can I get on one of these trams?
The public can board the Luas on the Sandyford/St Stephen's Green line from 3 p.m. today. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has some final glitches to iron out this morning but it says "none are show stoppers".
What route does it take?
The "Green Line" between Sandyford and St Stephen's Green opens today. The "Red Line" from Tallaght to Connolly Station on Amiens Street - passing through the Red Cow roundabout - is due to open at the end of August. The two lines do not meet.
How long does it take to get into the city?
22 minutes from Sandyford to St Stephen's Green.
How much is a ticket?
Travel on Luas is free until next Monday. From then, tickets will cost between €1.30 and €2 for one-way trips, and €16 for a seven-day unlimited ticket (reduced to €14 at selected retailers). OAPs will be entitled to free travel at all times.
Where can you get a ticket?
Tickets are available from vending machines at the stops and will be sold already validated. There will be no ticket sales or ticket validating machines on the trams.
What can you take on board?
Suitcases, golf clubs, baby buggies, wheelchairs and guide dogs. Bicycles are prohibited.
Are there park-and-ride facilities?
Yes, at the stations at Sandyford (100 spaces), Stillorgan (300 spaces) and Balally (400 spaces). Both the Sandyford and Stillorgan facilites are located on Blackthorn Avenue. Parking will be free until next Monday when a flat fee of €4 per car per day will apply. Free parking for motorbikes and bicycles will be available. A start date for the Balally park-and-ride facility beside the station has yet to be announced.
Is Luas wheelchair-accessible?
Yes. Lifts are available at stops and platforms are ramped at both ends.
What about on-street parking?
Some free, legal parking is available along the route, including at Sandyford Industrial Estate, although this may change over time if local residents and business owners become irate at day-parkers outside their premises.
What hours will it operate?
Today trams will run between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tomorrow and Friday 5.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.
Saturday 6.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. to 11.30 p.m.
From next week normal service will commence, with trams running from 5.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. Monday to Friday, from 6.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. Saturday and from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. Sunday.
How often will trams come?
Over the four-day period to Sunday, trams will run at a flat 10-minute frequency. From next week, morning and evening peak-time frequency will be one tram every five minutes, reducing to every seven and a half minutes at off-peak hours, and every 15 minutes after 11.30 p.m.
How many passengers can the trams take?
Each has room for 300: 80 seating and the remainder standing.
How do you get off?
Trams will stop automatically at each of the 13 stops so there is no need to signal that you wish to get off. When trams have stopped doors may be opened by pushing a button on the door.
Is there any etiquette for commuters?
Passengers getting off trams have right of way over those getting on. You can't smoke on board but you can listen to a walkman. "All we'd say is for people to be mannerly," said an RPA spokesman.
Will it ease traffic congestion in the city?
Time will tell. A 1996 report commissioned by CIÉ predicted that Luas would cut rush hour traffic by just 2 per cent. In Dundrum/Milltown, it said just 4-6 per cent of journeys would be made by light rail instead of car. But the RPA and traffic managers believe the knock-on effect will be greater as people gain more confidence in public transport.
Will there be trouble at junctions?
Is it true the tram driver has a magic button in the cab to make traffic lights go green?
Tram drivers have a button that allows them to get priority at a junction. Dublin Bus and Dublin City Council expressed concern last week that trams were seeking priority at junctions too frequently, and that on one day last week this added to traffic congestion in the city.
There may be teething problems, but all sides are said to be working together on a "protocol" that will be fair to all forms of public transport.
Who is running the system?
A French company called Connex has been contracted to run Luas for the next five years. The largest private transport operator in Europe, it has 57,000 employees and a turnover of €3.7 billion.
In Britain, however, Connex has lost two franchises in the last four years amid accusations of financial mismanagement and operational incompetence.
Will it make a profit?
The RPA claims the Sandyford and Tallaght lines will "at least break even". The agency expects to pay Connex €20 million a year to run the system - a fee which it will fund through "fare box" revenue.
If Luas fails to achieve its target of 20 million passengers in its first year, however, a shortfall of funds is likely.
What has Luas cost to build?
According to the RPA, the final bill is €775 million - a dramatic increase on the initial estimate of £227 million (€288 million) in 1997. At least €30m of the cost overrun is accounted for by the acquisition and demolition of the ramp at Connolly Station, which the RPA later conceded was unnecessary. An extra €40m-€50m must also be spent on upgrading of the Red Cow interchange to allow the Tallaght line run smoothly.