An extensive gas fire at George’s Dock bridge in August caused it to become ‘structurally compromised’, requiring reconstruction

Luas

The Luas Red Line will fully reopen tomorrow after a three-month closure which disrupted service to several stops along Dublin’s quays, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed.

The tram’s operator Transdev said that the fire on George’s Dock on August 21 left the bridge “structurally compromised”, requiring it to be demolished and rebuilt.

The works severed the line serving stops between Connolly Station and The Point which accommodates 20,000 journeys on average per day, increasing during concerts and other major events.

TII conducted a detailed assessment of the bridge, light rail infrastructure, and associated utilities to ensure the safe return of services.

An intensive programme of construction and reinstatement works was then delivered with the assistance of Transdev, Jons Civil Engineering, ROD, GPX Rail and the Custom House Docks Management Limited.

Utility connections, Luas tracks and the Overhead Contact System were fully reinstated, and the approval of a return of passengers to the line was approved by the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR)

After the successful completion of building works, TII has announced a reopening date of tomorrow, Friday, November 28 at 5:30am at George’s Dock Luas Stop. Later in the morning at 9:45am, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien will attend a reopening event to mark it alongside TII representatives, local businesses and parties directly involved in the reconstruction.

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, thanked passengers for their patience in restoring the service ahead of a busy Christmas period.

Transdev Managing Director, Ben Dwars, said: “I want to acknowledge the excellent partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and all stakeholders involved. The way everyone pulled together ensured we reached this day safely and on schedule. We are very pleased to welcome our passengers back on board.”

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Anne Shaw, CEO at the National Transport Authority, hailed the cooperation of those involved in getting the vital service back up and running.

“The reopening of Luas Red Line services between Connolly and The Point demonstrates the commitment and collaboration of all partners in completing these complex works safely and efficiently. Restoring this key connection ahead of the busy Christmas season ensures passengers can continue to rely on Luas as a convenient and sustainable travel option.”