Saturday 17th June was a key milestone in Luas Cross City line project with the initial gauging runs taking place ahead of the line’s opening planned for the end of 2017. Two of the system’s Citadis 401 trams had been specially selected to undertake these first runs – with the city centre section of the line the first to see tram movements shortly after 0300 on 17th June.
As with all tram systems across the British Isles the initial gauging runs were run at slow speed – between 5kph and 10kph – with Police escort. Trams 4001 and 4003 were used for the first runs throughout the weekend with Saturday 17th June seeing the city centre section between St Stephen’s Green, College Green, over to O’Connell Street before ending at Broadstone. The following day saw the off street section between Broadstone and Cabra tested with the city centre section again rounding off the weekend of testing.
The Cross City line is in effect an extension of the Green route from St Stephen’s Green. Running through the city centre to Broombridge there will be 13 new stops including eight in the core city centre area. A new depot has also been constructed at Broombridge. For the first time it will also provide interchange between the Green and Red lines at O’Connell Street.
The new line has cost 368 million euros and is due to open to the public by the end of this year. It will be completed on time and on budget.
* An official video of the first gauging runs is available at https://www.luascrosscity.ie/announcements/major-milestone-luas-cross-city-project-landmark-gauge-run-test-successfully-completed/.
Fantastic to see trams in O’Connell Street, haven’t been to Dublin for 11 years, must go back next year when the new line is open.
Are the two junction curves on Abbey Street onto the two single green route lines crossing the red line in either direction to be used in service?
Before construction started and I had looked at the plans I asked the question as to whether these connections would be used for service trams. The answer was no – only for engineering purposes and to transfer trams between depots. I always though that this was a mistake which in future years would be regretted. To put in suitable connections for everyday service would have been a minimal extra cost at the time – now will be very expensive and disruptive.