TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES MUST MAKE LUAS SAFER ON ABBEY STREET - KENNY

Posted on April 8, 2014 3:44 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Sean Kenny, a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Dublin Labour TD has said that the RPA and Luas operator Veolia now have to intervene to make the Luas safer on Abbey Street.

"While I believe that road users and pedestrians do need be careful around Luas lines and Luas trams, I really think that there now has to be serious intervention by the new Transport Infrastructure Agency. Veolia need to do more to make the Red Line safer, something I called for in 2012 and in 2013. I now find myself calling for measures yet again in 2014. This is simply not good enough on the part of transport authorities."

"There has been a fatality on the Luas line on Abbey Street, a part of the Luas Red Line that has seen numerous Luas accidents over the years involving Luas trams and motor vehicles. It is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure that Luas operates in a safer manner on Abbey Street - it seems to be that it is a black spot on the Luas network. I would also be concerned that similar black spots would occur on the new Luas link-up that is current being built."

"At this point I feel that the transport authorities that have an influence over how the Luas operates need to seriously examine segregating as much as possible, the Luas tracks from motor vehicles and pedestrians in order to prevent accidents. What has happened in the latest case is that a collision has occurred between a Luas tram and a car, which led to the death of a pedestrian who was passing by at the time."

"Dublin can only function as a safe city if the various authorities and agencies step up and contribute positively to how all the various aspects of the city are run. I am now quite concerned that the Luas, as it currently operates on Abbey Street, is nowhere near as safe as it should be, and I will be taking up the matter with the Minister for Public Transport, Alan Kelly."