Green Line (Luas)
The Green Line is one of the two lines of Dublin's Luas light rail system.
The Green Line was formerly entirely in the south side of Dublin city. It mostly follows the route of the old Harcourt Street railway line, which was reserved for possible re-use when it closed in 1958. The Green Line allows for passenger transfers at O’ Connell GPO and Marlborough to Luas Red Line services and also allows commuters to use Broombridge as an interchange station to reach outer suburbs such as Castleknock and Ongar.
The Green Line from St Stephen's Green to Sandyford launched on 30 June 2004. An extension to the Bride's Glen stop at Cherrywood was opened on 16 October 2010.
As of 2018, the Green line is operating at near maximum capacity during the morning and evening rush hours, and it experiences mass overcrowding and congestion at these times. To assist in alleviating this congestion, seven new longer trams came into service in 2018, with a further eight entering service in 2020. Platforms between St Stephen's Green and Sandyford have been lengthened to accommodate the new trams.
Course of the line
The section south of St Stephen's Green makes significant re-use of the old Harcourt Street railway line while the northbound route of the newer Cross City section mainly re-uses the old Midland Great Western Railway line after skirting the former site of Broadstone railway works and station.Southern section
Between Harcourt Street and Charlemont, the Green Line takes a large loop east around buildings which did not exist between 1859 and 1959. As such, there is no train bridge on Adelaide Road for the current line, as there had been for the Harcourt Street Line.The line then follows the old alignment of the Harcourt Street line from Charlemont station as far as the current Sandyford stop. After Sandyford the line detours over the Leopardstown Road/Brewery Road junction so as to run west around the Leopardstown Racecourse before rejoining the original alignment just north of Carrickmines. The Harcourt Street line had run around the eastern edge of the racecourse, via Silverpark. Remnants of the old Foxrock Station are visible at the back of The Hedgerows in Foxrock. The route deviation was seemingly intended to serve the new properties that would have been built during the "Celtic Tiger" boom, before the Extension was open.
After this detour around Leopardstown Racecourse, the current line runs roughly along the original alignment with some minor detours, particularly prevalent at Laughanstown.
The Carrickmines/Bride's Glen section was also intended to have terminated into what should have a "Celtic Tiger" town centre, similar to the Tallaght area stops, until the Line B2 extension to Fassaroe/Bray was built. This is why, as of 2018, this end of the Green Line seemingly goes to the middle of nowhere, through fields, as nearly all the property that was intended to be serviced by the line, was never built. This is also why there were unused "Ghost" stops built, to serve these unbuilt areas.
There are some other cosmetic differences between the Harcourt Street Line and the current Green Line, such as the positioning of the Ranelagh stop. The location of Ranelagh on the former line was at the current Beechwood stop. The old Ranelagh stop was the last stop on the old line before the train reached the city.
Luas Cross City
Luas Cross City, formerly called Luas BXD, is an extension to the Green Line which runs from St. Stephen's Green to Broombridge railway station.Construction of Luas Cross City began in June 2013 and it opened on 9 December 2017. The Rosie Hackett Bridge carrying the new line over the river Liffey was opened on 20 May 2014.
The new section begins at the former city centre terminus, St. Stephen's Green, crosses the Red Line near the Abbey stop, and continues northwards, terminating at Broombridge station. There it connects passengers using Iarnród Éireann commuter services to Maynooth railway station and M3 Parkway railway station.
Stops
| Image | Name Name in Irish | Zone | Location | Transport interchange | Serves |
| Broombridge Droichead Broome | Green 1 | Broombridge railway station | Broombridge Dublin Bus routes | Tolka Valley Park Dublin Industrial Estate | |
| Cabra Cabrach | Green 1 | Connaught Street / Fassaugh Road | Cabra Mount Bernard Park National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin Cemetery | ||
| Phibsborough Baile Phib | Green 1 | North Circular Road / Cabra Road | Phibsborough Dalymount Park St Peter's Church, Phibsborough | ||
| Grangegorman Gráinseach Ghormáin | Green 1 | Grangegorman | Drumcondra dublinbikes | Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Technological University Dublin | |
| Broadstone — DIT An Chloch Leathan — ITBhÁC | Green 1 / Central | Western Way | Drumcondra Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | King's Inns 14 Henrietta Street Blessington Street Park Technological University Dublin | |
| Dominick Doiminic | Central | Dominick Street Lower | Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | Cineworld Dublin 14 Henrietta Street DIT Bolton Street Rotunda Hospital | |
| Parnell | Central | Parnell Street East | Many bus routes on Parnell Street / Parnell Square dublinbikes | Gate Theatre James Joyce Centre Hugh Lane Gallery Dublin Writers Museum Mountjoy Square | |
| Marlborough Maoilbhríde | Central | Marlborough Street South | Luas Red Line Abbey Street Dublin Connolly Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | Department of Education and Skills St Mary's Pro-Cathedral | |
| Trinity An Trionóid | Central | College Street | Tara Street Many bus routes on College Green dublinbikes | College Green, Dame Street Trinity College Parliament House Olympia Theatre | |
| O'Connell Upper Ó Conaill Uachtarach | Central | O'Connell Street North | Many bus routes on O'Connell Street dublinbikes | O'Connell Street Savoy Cinema | |
| O'Connell, GPO Ó Conaill, AOP | Central | O'Connell Street South | Luas Red Line Abbey Street Many bus routes on O'Connell Street dublinbikes | O'Connell Street, Henry Street The Spire General Post Office | |
| Westmoreland | Central | Westmoreland Street | Tara Street Dublin Bus routes | The National Wax Museum Plus Trinity College Parliament House Olympia Theatre | |
| Dawson Dásain | Central | Dawson Street | Dublin Pearse Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | Dawson Street Grafton Street Kildare Street Leinster House St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street Kerlin Gallery Mansion House Leinster House National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology National Library of Ireland | |
| St. Stephen's Green Faiche Stiabhna | Central | St. Stephen's Green West | Tara Street Dublin Pearse Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | St. Stephen's Green Grafton Street Gaiety Theatre Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland Dublin Castle and Chester Beatty Library | |
| Harcourt Sráid Fhearchair | Central | Harcourt Street | Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | National Concert Hall Iveagh Gardens Synge Street CBS | |
| Charlemont | Central / Green 2 | Grand Parade | Dublin Bus routes dublinbikes | Portobello Cathal Brugha Barracks Grand Canal | |
| Ranelagh Raghnallach | Green 2 | Ranelagh | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Ranelagh Rathmines Leinster Cricket Club Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club | |
| Beechwood Coill na Feá | Green 2 | Dunville Avenue / Beechwood Road | Dublin Bus routes | Rathmines Sandford Park School | |
| Cowper | Green 2 | Cowper Road | Dublin Bus routes | Dartry Gonzaga College | |
| Milltown Baile an Mhuilinn | Green 2 | Richmond Avenue South | Dublin Bus routes | Milltown Golf Club Alexandra College Trinity Hall | |
| Windy Arbour Na Glasáin | Green 2 | Churchtown Road Lower / St. Columbanus' Road | Dublin Bus routes | Windy Arbour, Churchtown, Clonskeagh University College Dublin Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland De La Salle College Churchtown Central Mental Hospital | |
| Dundrum Dún Droma | Green 2/3 | Dundrum / Taney Road | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Dundrum Dundrum Town Centre | |
| Balally Baile Amhlaoibh | Green 3 | Drummartin | Dublin Bus routes Luas Park + Ride | Goatstown Dundrum Town Centre Wesley College Mount Anville Secondary School | |
| Kilmacud Cill Mochuda | Green 3 | Benildus Avenue / Drummartin Link Road | Dublin Bus routes | Kilmacud St Benildus College | |
| Stillorgan Stigh Lorgan | Green 3 | Blackthorn Avenue | Dublin Bus routes Luas Park + Ride | Stillorgan Beacon Hospital | |
| Sandyford Áth an Ghainimh | Green 3/4 | Blackthorn Avenue | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes Luas Park + Ride | Sandyford | |
| Central Park An Pháirc Láir | Green 4 | South County Business Park | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Leopardstown Park Hospital Leopardstown Racecourse Kilmacud Crokes GAA South County Business Park | |
| Glencairn Gleann an Chairn | Green 4 | Murphystown Road | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Glencairn House | |
| The Gallops An Eachrais | Green 4 | Murphystown Way | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Stepaside | |
| Leopardstown Valley Gleann Baile na Lobhair | Green 4 | Ballyogan Road | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Leopardstown shopping centre | |
| Ballyogan Wood Coill Bhaile Uí Ógáin | Green 4 | Ballyogan Vale | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Ballyogan The Park Carrickmines Stepaside Golf Course | |
| Carrickmines Carraig Mhaighin | Green 5 | Glenamuck Road North | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes Luas Park + Ride | Carrickmines, Cabinteely, Foxrock, Cornelscourt Carrickmines Golf Club | |
| Laughanstown Baile an Lachnáin | Green 5 | Laughanstown | Cabinteely | ||
| Cherrywood Coill na Sílíní | Green 5 | Cherrywood Park / Valley Drive | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Cherrywood Cherrywood Business Park | |
| Brides Glen Gleann Bhríde | Green 5 | Cherrywood Business Park | Dublin Bus routes Go-Ahead Ireland routes | Cherrywood, Loughlinstown, St. Columcille's Hospital |
Bridges
The line re-uses some existing bridges and viaducts and has had new bridges specially constructed. The new build William Dargan Bridge at Dundrum crosses the Slang River. The River Liffey is crossed by the new Rosie Hackett Bridge southbound and the existing O'Connell Bridge northbound. The River Dodder is crossed by the Nine Arches Bridge originally constructed for the Harcourt Street railway line in 1854.Depots
The Green line initially was provisioned with a works depot just past the Sandyford terminus and opposite the old Stillorgan Railway station building. The depot could stable 32 trams. When the Green line was extended to Broombridge a further depot was constructed over part of the old Liffey Junction site. It was named Hamilton Depot in honour of William Rowan Hamilton who developed the quaternion mathematical number system. The primary control facility for the Luas system for such functions as power and signally lies at the Red line Luas depot at Red Cow. Following a storm damage incident in October 2017 at Red Cow it was found the depots at Broombridge and Sandyford were not able to take over the function and the whole Luas system was suspended for two days.Planned developments
Green Line upgrade to metro
A portion of the Luas Green Line between Charlemont and Sandyford was built with the eventual intention that it be upgraded to carry metro services. In the development of rail based public transport in Greater Dublin, it was envisaged that Metro North would be completed and operating by 2012. It was further planned under the Platform for Change that Metro South, due to operate from St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford would follow this by, according to the Platform for Change, 2020.However, due to the Great Recession, Metro North was delayed until 2015 at which point it was revived as the "new Metro North". At this stage, efforts were undertaken by the National Transport Authority to improve upon the original Metro North design and alignment. Originally, Metro North's 2012 alignment would connect to Iarnród Éireann's Western Commuter line at Drumcondra. However, new consideration was given by the NTA in the intervening period between 2015 and 2018 to divert the metro line from Drumcondra to Cross Guns Bridge, a point where the Western and South Western Commuter lines meet. Diverting to this area and building a brand new station called Glasnevin would enable the Metro to interchange with two rail lines both of which, would be high frequency DART lines at the time of the metro's opening. As the scale of the new metro North project grew, the decision was made to upgrade the Green Line from Charlemont to Sandyford to metro standard and connect it to Metro North all at once. This decision was made due to the Green Line's overcapacity issues. It was forecast that without an increase of capacity and frequency the tram service provided by the Green Line would eventually become dangerously overcrowded. When the new project was announced to the public in 2018, it was announced as MetroLink, a metro line running from Swords, under Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre, emerging in the Charlemont area, before continuing on the newly upgraded Green Line to Sandyford.
Green Line upgrade deferred
If completed as was planned, metro trains would replace Luas trams between Ranelagh and Sandyford, with a new station interchange between the two lines at Charlemont.During the public consultation process for this proposal, Dublin City Council submitted that a large sewer was blocking the path of where the tunnel was planned to emerge, just south of the existing Charlemont tram stop. This necessitated the realignment of the tunnel portal to just north of the current Beechwood Luas stop. This realignment also meant that the planned upgrade of the Luas line would grow in size from a possible 9 months to nearly 48, as the tunnel boring machine needed to reach the new portal in Beechwood before the Green Line upgrade works could begin. This would therefore delay the opening of the entire Metrolink line. The constructability report detailed however, that if the Green Line Upgrade was done as a second phase to the northern section, then the northern could open on schedule. By completing the Green Line upgrade as a second phase, time savings could also be made on the upgrade works.
Status
This news, when announced in March 2019, was widely reported as the upgrade having been "shelved" or "abandoned"However, the project is still planned as part of the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy 2016-2035 which the National Transport Authoirty remains legislatively bound to pursue. In May 2019, this commitment was reaffirmed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in an episode of 98FM's On the Move transport podcast:
As of April 2020, it is still the position of both Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority to upgrade the Green Line from Beechwood to Sandyford to metro standard as no change has been made the Greater Dublin Transport Strategy. The Green Line Upgrade will commence at some point after Metrolink opens in 2027, as is currently planned. However, due to the economic downturn as expected from the Coronavirus disease 2019 crisis, this may be subject to change.