Back to the future as trams return to Dublin

LUAS may be located in Dublin, but it’s there for everybody to use and enjoy. For the world and his wife, in fact, if you follow the literal Irish translation.

“This is the way to travel,” a media colleague enthused, a broad smile on his face, as we neared journey’s end in record time.

We dare to ask: how Irish is this marvel of the 21st century, apart from its title - the Gaelic name for speed?

Credits for the project suggest the world and his brother have been engaged in realising our dream light rail transport system.

Graceful, sleek and elegant trams (French, but of course); contractors from Italy, Australia, Spain and the Netherlands; workers from New Zealand, Iran, Ireland. A company with French parentage runs the service.

Enough of the cheap shots: we took the very first tram out of Sandyford - the one with the movers and shakers on board - and simply marvelled at its superb qualities.

“Where’s the champagne,” one ingrate queried as we fled the rain, beckoned into the south Dublin rail depot by a jazz band in full flow. Nothing flash on the beverages front though: Jacob’s Creek red and liquids that included coffee.

It served to remind us Luas is a commuter carrier for ordinary people - and the finest proletarian gesture is to offer it for free for the first five days.

Standing room only (for many of us) didn’t offer a fair test of our inaugural run, but we loved the experience. Smooth acceleration, silent operation and what a great view along the 9.6 km route.

It was a point echoed by the excited and fulfilled Transport Minister on our arrival 22 minutes later at St Stephen’s Green terminal.

“I never before got a full run on the Luas - just a hundred yards here and there,” Seamus Brennan admitted. “I really got a whole different view of places I know.”

Back on terra firma, former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald played the dog who couldn’t let go of the bone: “It’s good, but it could have been so much better - if they had put it underground from Ranelagh. But it’s good.”

As he waited to board Luas, 45 years after his own Howth service closed down, retired conductor Colm Weafer, 77, remarked: “It will be quite an experience.”

Through streets broad and narrow: A Luas vox pop

PHYLLIS GAINES, Tallaght: “It was a lovely, pleasant trip but for the overcrowding. And it would be a lovely journey, but people kept pushing on. There was nobody stopping them getting on.

It would be very handy for coming into town - but I do think it’s a little expensive when the prices come in.”

Ross Kealy, Sandyford: Luas is a very good service and will be of great benefit for people in the general area.

It is a bit overcrowded. I wish Mr Brennan could get extra tramcars on the Sandyford line. It would be much better.

We had a long wait, for about a half an hour or more. All the trams were full and they wouldn’t squeeze any more of us on.”

Kate Hennessey and Stephen Steinbeiser, Pennsylvania, US: “We found it was brilliant, though not as extensive as the Istanbul and Strasbourg trams.

Once you get outside the city centre the stops are more pleasant. And we love the bridge at Dundrum.”

Barry Hogsett, Killiney: “They’re actually charging to park your car to come on the Luas. The answer to that problem is you should be able to come in for free and use your ticket to get out of the car park.”

Rhona Foley, Killiney: “I’m on a DART line and I tried Luas today. Of course I enjoyed it; the trams are so clean.

We were told at every station there were going to be delays because so many people wanted to get on. But you expect that on the first day.”