Passengers to get five days’ free travel after launch of Luas services
Details of timetables and fares were announced by the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) yesterday in advance of the start of the €778m light rail service.
RPA chairman, Padraic White, said it had been decided to allow free access from 3pm on June 30 until July 4 to allow members of the public familiarise themselves with the new trams.
“It is also important for other road users and pedestrians to adjust to the presence of trams,” he said.
The service will be formally launched by Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan, at the Sandyford depot on June 30.
Single adult fare on both lines will range from €1.30 to €2 depending on the number of zones travelled, with corresponding return fares between €2.50 and €3.80. The vast majority of child fares will be €0.80 for a single journey and €1.50 return, irrespective of distance travelled.
The RPA also announced details of multi-journey tickets and “combi-tickets” which will allow commuters use both Luas and Dublin Bus services.
Controversially, tickets for multi-journey options such as daily, weekly and monthly fares will cost more if bought from vending machines located at Luas stops than from selected retailers.
For example, a weekly adult ticket costs €16 at a Luas vending machine but just €14 if bought from one of the retailers.
RPA chief executive, Frank Allen, defended the fares, claiming the pricing structure was designed to encourage people to use retailers to buy tickets in order to minimise queues at vending machines. However, only people travelling longer distances will make any major savings by buying multi-journey tickets.
Nevertheless, Mr White said a seven-day ticket with unlimited travel at any time for either €14 or €16 was great value as it allowed regular commuters who use the service on weekdays unlimited access to the Luas over the weekend.
“We believe the fares will prove highly attractive because of the frequency, reliability and smoothness of the experience,” he said.
He also defended the imposition of a €4 daily charge to use park and ride facilities on both routes. Over 2,000 park and ride spaces will be provided, including over 850 spaces on the Sandyford-St Stephen’s Green route.
Mr White claimed parking fees for other motorists will be significantly higher in order to keep spaces free for drivers using the Luas. However, he ruled out the option of restricting such park and ride spaces to Luas users as impracticable.
The RPA said the fact that no tickets would be sold on board the trams made the new services an “honour-based system.” However, it warned fare evaders that they would face penalties of €45 if caught without a valid ticket.
It is estimated that over 20% of all Luas commuters will have their tickets checked by a team of “customer service officers.”
Commercial services on the Green Line will start on July 5. Initially, trams will operate at 10-minute intervals at peak-times. However, it is expected that services will run every 5 minutes between 7am and 10am by the end of July.
Trams will operate from 5.30am until 12.30am on weekdays with later start times at weekends.
Pensioners and disabled persons with free travel passes as well as children under three will be allowed use Luas for free.
Luas claims it needs to carry 20 million passengers per annum on both lines in order to reach “break-even” point. The Red line is due to start in the autumn.
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