Luas bosses pledge free travel for opening

Tram bosses today pledged free travel for the opening of the next Luas line after the first was hailed a runaway success.

Five-days of ticketless travel on the red line from Dublin’s Tallaght to Connolly Station was given the green light after 140,000 people used the Luas since its launch.

The red line, which will provide a direct link between Connolly Station and Heuston, is set to open at the end of August.

The 23 stops will connect Tallaght to the city centre including the local hospital, St James’s Hospital, the train stations, Bus Áras and the Dart Services.

Over 30,000 people availed of the free travel on the first day, Wednesday last, when the service from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford came online.

People can travel without charge on the Sandyford line until Sunday night.

The Railway Procurement Agency, which manages the trams, said there will be family events held at St Stephen’s Green and Stillorgan over the weekend.

The tram bosses warned drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to obey the rules of the road and to take extra care, as the trams made their reappearance after half-a-century.