BUSRAGE Discussions » General Issues

1. Anonymous
   Member

   After all the hype, bad press and plain old Irish moaning, the LUAS is here.
   
   It has to be said, Fair Play and i wish it all the best of success!
   
   Any idea's a good idea when removing private traffic from our roads and i am sure after all the construction, it will have been well worth waiting for.
   
   Just one further point. have you noticed how smug and self loving the Tram Drivers look. They must think they are airline pilots now!
   [posted by: Aircoach man]

   Posted 4 years ago #

2. Al
   Member

   There are a few bad things to note about the Luas itself:

   
   
   • Came in over-budget
     
   • Trams cannot operate multiple-unit (hence no long train capacity)
     
   • Connex is the operator (and they already have a bad rep in relation to operations, having been kicked off the rails in Britain)
     
   • Short station platforms can only fit one 40-metre-long tram (so station crowding could become a problem)
     
   • Use of 4 foot 8½-inch track gauge means that it would be more expensive to convert Line B (Sandyford) to DART format in the future (which uses 5 foot 3 inch gauge)...remember that in the past, it was possible to travel from what is now Line B to Bray, Wicklow, Wexford, Rosslare et al
     
   • Using two different-sized trams for Line A (Tallaght, 30-metre) and Line B (Sandyford, 40-metre) increased costs in both long-term and short-term
     
   • Abundance of glass on trams makes them into tempting targets for rock-throwers (I haven't forgotten how the old MV-class buses were pelted in Finglas while working the old 134, just for comparison's sake; Line A goes right through Tallaght)
     
   • Street-running in the city centre already has resulted in road traffic (cars especially) running afoul of the Luas tracks

   
   

   OTOH, it is a blessing to have something running on the old Harcourt Street Line versus the nothing that prevailed for decades; and there is at least something railway going into the Tallaght area instead of all buses (last time there were rails going into Tallaght was on the old Dublin & Blessington Steam Tramway, which got converted to bus route 65). Hoping for better things to come in the future...
   

   Posted 4 years ago #

3. Karl
   Member

   It's easy to point the finger and criticise but the Luas is up and running and that's the main thing. Sure the project could possibly have gone quicker, cheaper etc. but lessons can be learned which will hopefully be put to use in the future. Let's point the finger less and maybe applaud something for a change.

   Posted 4 years ago #

4. AlekSmart
   Member

   Sorry Karl,but you are missing the point.
   Already the RPA are up and running with more cockamamy incredibly expensive projects,all on the back of the "Success" of Luas.
   The reality is that the entire Luas project needs to be gone back over with a fine toothcomb and heads need to roll as a result...Then we can say we are learning from our mistakes !!!

   Posted 4 years ago #

5. Al
   Member

   Let's point the finger less
   
   Problem is, the less you point the finger, the more can and will go wrong. On the same funding level, you probably could have had DART on Line B instead of trams that cannot run MU.
   
   And can you honestly say that I offered unbalanced and/or false criticism? If so, then you have a leg to stand on, but if I am right, then I ought not be shut up. Criticism is still a positive thing, you know; without criticism, there is no refinement of art.
   

   Posted 4 years ago #

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