Disabled group hails new Luas system

Luas will be the best public transport system disabled people have ever had, the National Disability Authority said today.

The trams, which begin running on the Sandyford to St Stephen’s Green line tomorrow, will be able to fit up to 30 more wheelchairs than a standard bus and will also contain aids for the blind and the hard of hearing.

The National Disability Authority said Luas engineers had consulted widely with disabled people to produce a very accessible system.

“We’ve had walk through audits with people with guide dogs and with wheelchairs,” said accessibility officer Sean Murphy “I think that is the key. Otherwise, no matter how good an engineer or architect you are, it’s very difficult to understand what might be a barrier.”

All of the Luas trams have low floors and there is a minimal gap between the floor and the station platform.

The designers used tactile paving at the bottom of ramps and on platforms to let blind people know they were close to the edge, and provided audio, as well as visual travel information at each stop.

Mr Murphy, who is also a member of the Public Transport Accessibility Committee, said the increased space on Luas trams, which can accommodate up to 320 people would be a significant benefit for wheelchair users.

“A lot of people with disabilities never use public transport because it can be very embarrassing to be in a wheelchair on an overcrowded bus. If a couple in wheelchairs want to take a bus to the cinema, there’s usually only room for one of them. But there shouldn’t be any of those problems with Luas,” he said.

Workmen were busy putting the finishing touches to the stations tonight while Luas drivers brought the trams on a series of test runs. The trams are capable of speeds of up to 70 miles per hour and will arrive at the stations every 10 minutes.

Thousands of people will be able to travel on the Luas for free from 3pm until 8pm tomorrow.

Charging for the 22 minute journey from Sandyford in St Stephen’s Green will begin next week, after people have got used to the system.

Inspectors will carry out blitzes of trams and issue on the spot fines of 45 euro to anyone found without a ticket.

Elderly people with a bus pass will also be entitled to free travel on the Luas at all times.

The second Luas line, from Tallaght to Connolly Station, will open next month.