Ireland Speeds Luas Finglas Extension to 2028, First Tram by 2031
Ireland's Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien announced the Luas Finglas extension construction will start in 2028, earlier than planned. However, the first tram isn't expected until 2031. This project highlights past delays in Irish infrastructure, with no major public transport lines completed since 2017, and significant challenges remain in securing labor and funding.
Ireland's Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, announced the Luas extension to Finglas will begin construction in 2028, moved up from 2030/31. However, the first tram from Broombridge to Finglas Village and Charlestown is not expected until approximately 2031.
No new fixed-line public transport has opened in Ireland since the Luas cross-city and Broombridge extension in December 2017. This means no major projects will be completed before the next general election by January 2030, with commuters only seeing disruption from ongoing construction. The government faces criticism for past inaction, despite current urgency.
The Luas Finglas line, first proposed in the mid-1990s, was included in a 2016 National Transport Authority Strategy. The preferred route was published in 2020, and planning permission was granted last October, following the resolution of three judicial reviews. Experts advised accelerating the project due to its economic and social returns.
The government's plan to speed up approval processes for infrastructure projects aims to address past delays caused by indecision and lengthy consultations, despite available funding. A key challenge remains finding enough construction workers for multiple large projects like MetroLink and Dart and Luas extensions, alongside housing demands.