The Red line has been operating for a little over a week now and I've been on it a total of five times, three times during the "free" period and twice this week. I'd like to cover several issues and would appreciate your comments on them.
1. Over crowding and "packing them in" this was obviously a major issue last week as everyone decided to "give it a go" and not have to pay. The other major overcrowding point is Heuston Station (inbound). When I got on the tram at the Red Cow this morning I found it fairly empty (all seats gone though, no surprise there). This was at 8:15. There was a man with an RPA ID on the tram and I thought "o good, he'll stop too many people getting on. However, when we got to Heuston he just said "move back there please" and hopped off. Thus I had a repeat of what happened to me last week, about 50 people tried to get into a space suitable for ten!
2. Timings: trip time from the Red Cow to Abbey St was a little over 1/2 an hour - which is somewhat better than the busses as they get caught on the Naas road, Johns road/inchicore (depends on the route) and the north quays/ James's hospital.
3. Health and Safety: There is a footbridge over the Naas road linking the Ibis (budget hotel) with the Red cow stop which I think should NOT be open. There is undressed concrete on the bridge platform and the steps are simply (loose) planks. IT actually sways in the wind and you can feel it rattle as you cross. More like a fairground attraction for scaring the kids than a public convenience. The other thing is the footbridge terminates in an embankment forcing a 250M walk to the platform. This could be cut down by at least half if a small break was made in the embankment (which is only mud atm) and a little tarmac laid down.
4. Inspectors: As I’ve said I've been on it twice this week but haven't seen any inspectors yet. Still its early days. ON the bright side Monday evening saw a guard (with equally large - presumably off duty mate) get on a Heuston which seemed to prompt an awful lot of people to get off in a hurry. Far be it for me to say but that looks suspicious...
5. Ticket prices: I had an Annual bus only pass. I rang up on Monday to see about upgrading and was told it was only 44 euro. Now considering that the price of a monthly pass is 65 euro (to cover all red zones) it seemed like a good idea for 3 months worth!
Well, that’s my experience so far, feel free to comment
Red Al
BUSRAGE Discussions » Light Rail
Red Line - A week in Review
(18 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Inspectors will be assisting at machines this week rather than checking tickets. When a tram stops its a case of get on or wait for the next one. Its at passengers descresion whether to board or not. It would take 8 connex staff per tram to man the doors which is impractical.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago # -
I read in the old Evening Herald that An Luas has become noting more than an expensive play place for young ruffians in the Bluebell and Fatima areas. They jump aboard trams, swing out of the grab rails and seats and intimidate the other passengers. What to CONNEX (who destroyed the South Central and South East franchises in Britain) planning to do about this? Where's the point in having An Luas if passengers are too afraid to use it?Posted 3 years ago #
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David,
I've been using it all week at varying times and haven't seen any of this type of behaviour. It's probably jsut the Herald using "journalism" to try and sell newspapers.
Tell me, was this a typical Indo style piece where opinion is sytled as a "news story".
I must sya my experience this week has been positive overall. It seems to take 30 mins from Abbey St to the Red Cow irrespective of what time (16:20, 17:10 in the PM and 8:00, 8:10 and 8:20 in the AM) I get on. I'll be purchasing the tax free luas/bus combi for next year.
AlanPosted 3 years ago # -
If anyone has seen an empty tram because passengers are afraid to use it then please let me know where and when.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago # -
smithfield at 1405 yesterday
[posted by: barry williams]Posted 3 years ago # -
Out of service to pick up from connolly due to a delay.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago # -
David,unwrap urself from that cotton wool and grow sum balls.Bet ur afraid of ladybirds......and whats the 'old evening herald'? Where u readin one from last year?Posted 3 years ago #
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The red line Luases I have seen seem smaller/shorter than the green line ones. I am imagining this?Posted 3 years ago #
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No your eyes are not seeing things the tallaght line trams are shorter that the sandyford line ones... but the tallaght line has more trams on the system.... Oh and HeLLO SANDy.... :-)
[posted by: AD 11]Posted 3 years ago # -
Yeah sure who wants to go to Tallagh anyway
HowYA AD11,Nice to hav u back. Nice one BudPosted 3 years ago # -
Tallaght is a lovely place.... No really it is I bleedin swear. it is... Don't give me the evil eyes now sandy.. Bitch... and Barry is a Gay.. Not the only one in the Village either I Hear. !
[posted by: ad 11]Posted 3 years ago # -
Hey,just to reinforce the fact that we are living in Ireland......It seems that some Luas Ticket Agents in the Tallaght area are imposing a surcharge of 20c per ticket on single or return tickets.
Can anybody confirm this....and better still if there are any "Luas" sleepers on the board can they outline the Official RPA/ConneX line on this..?Posted 3 years ago # -
Ticket agents dont sell single or return tickets so its a vicious rumour.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago # -
A2K...I think some research is required here.....Fambly Member purchased Two Adult returns an a Child Return from a shop in Tallaght.
Made a return twip and was ticket checked FOUR times and did not recieve a Penalty Fare.....something is odd about the Agency Arrangements...???Posted 3 years ago # -
A2K...My humblest apologies....On actually managing to get sight of the tickets I find they are ONE-DAY tickets and Damn Good value at that too.
No wonder the woman didnt get nicked..!!!Posted 3 years ago # -
Tut Tut Alek, the cheek of you thinkin the family were buyin tikets off the touts again!!
[posted by: Irish RM]Posted 3 years ago # -
Yes and any multiple tickts are always cheaper at agents than on machines. 30 day ticket is 8 EURO cheaper from an agent. Handy info for impoverished students. Not enough mark up on single and returns for agents.
[posted by: a2000]Posted 3 years ago #
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