Trams running on the Luas Red Line from Connolly station to Tallaght in Dublin will soon be less crowded.
Beginning next month, each of the 26 trams will be extended in length from 30 to 40 metres.
The extension project, which is expected to be completed in June 2008, was implemented in response to a rapid growth in the number of Luas passengers since it began service in 2004.
In 2006, there were 26 million Luas passengers, up 16 per cent on the year before. The number on the Tallaght line grew 24 per cent last year.
"A big problem we've had, especially with the red line, is that the trams have become very crowded," said Tom Manning, a spokesman for the Railway Procurement Agency. "We're very keen to have the longer trains, especially between Connolly and Heuston stations."
On Monday Minister for Transport Martin Cullen visited the Red Cow Luas depot to meet mechanics and engineers working on the first of the red line extensions.
Mr Cullen was also present for the signing of a contract between the agency and the European firm Alstom Transport which will bring 18 new trams to Dublin at a cost of €51.2 million.
The 18 trams, which will be built in Barcelona and begin arriving in Dublin in December 2008, are to be used on both existing lines and on two extensions: four trams each will go to the red and green lines while eight will be used on a green line extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood, near Loughlinstown, Co Dublin. The remaining two trams will be used on the Docklands extension.
According to Mr Cullen, the new trams will all be longer than those currently on the tracks.
Each tram will be 43 metres long with the capacity to be extended to 50 metres if the need arises.
In his visit to the Red Cow depot, Mr Cullen praised the environmentally-friendly nature of the Luas trams, which are all electrically powered.
He said that increased usage of the Luas could provide an important step in reducing CO2 emissions created by cars.
"These trains use the most modern technology," he said.
"The message from the public is that we should expand this service further."