Although nothing official has yet to be announced, reports from Ireland have said that a KeolisAmey joint venture is set to be awarded the new contract to operate and maintain Dublin’s Luas network. This will bring an end to 22 years of Transdev being the operator.
Transdev have operated the network since it first opened in 2004. The last contract started in December 2019 and is scheduled to run until September 2026, with an option for up to an additional five years.
But now after a competitive tender process it looks like the Transdev era will be at an end with KeolisAmey being trusted to run and maintain the network for at least the next seven years (with an option for five to seven more years). The exact start of the new contract is not known.
KeolisAmey – which is a French/British joint venture – are no stranger to operating tram and light rail systems. They currently hold two contracts within the UK – Docklands Light Railway and Manchester Metrolink.
The first reports of the change came towards the end of February with there then being a 14-day standstill period in which bidders can review the decision. Its presumed that once this period is over a public announcement will be made.