Transdev need to investigate ways to avoid city gridlock – Boland

Luas operator Transdev must urgently implement a contingency plan to ensure services continue during power outages, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Grace Boland said: “Thousands of commuters in Dublin were left stranded this morning as both Luas lines were brought to a standstill due to a power outage.

“Many passengers were forced to walk along the tracks to reach their workplaces, which created unsafe conditions and significant disruption to the city’s transport network.”

“Shocking video footage from College Green, a main thoroughfare in the capital, showed 11 buses unable to move due to two Luas trams, which ground to a halt due to this power outage.

“This is a vital artery for Dublin commuters, and unacceptable that a power outage can bring the entire system to a halt.”

Deputy Boland pointed to international best practice, noting that cities such as Nice operate similar tram systems equipped with on-board battery capabilities. These allow trams to continue moving during electrical faults, preventing gridlock and maintaining passenger safety.

“The Luas manufacturer has been contracted tor the roll-out of DART+ carriages, which will include battery packs. This demonstrates that the technology is available and feasible. There is no reason Dublin should be left vulnerable to complete shutdowns,” Deputy Boland said.

“I am calling on the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and Transdev to urgently develop and implement a contingency plan to ensure this type of disruption does not happen again. Dublin’s commuters deserve a resilient transport system that can withstand unexpected outages.”