Luas was launched in 2004 with 40 trams: fourteen 40m long trams on Luas Green Line based at the Sandyford Depot (Alstom Citadis 401) and twenty-six 30m long trams on Luas Red Line based at the Red Cow Depot (Alstom Citadis 301). RPA wished to increase Luas Red Line passenger capacity by converting the existing 26 Citadis 301s to 26 Citadis 401s.This required the supply and insertion of a Motorised Intermediate Car (MIC) and a Suspended Car (CS) for each of the vehicles, making them five module vehicles upgrading from three module trams. Capacity on these trams has increased further with the addition of Spider Bars for standing passengers in the centre of carriages and additional flip-down seating.
This €41m of required funding was approved in December 2005 by the Department of Transport, with RPA committing to a rate of vehicle conversion of one longer vehicle every two and a half weeks. One tram at a time was removed from service and extended. However, should a tram require unplanned maintenance, that requires its removal from service, the opportunity is taken to carry out the extension work to minimise the number of trams out of service at any one time. The funding also covered the extension of of the depot at Red Cow and additional tram stabling lanes to accommodate the newly extended 40 metre fleet.
The extension of the Red Line Trams started in February 2007 and was completed on time and under budget in May 2008. All 26 extended trams in the Red Line fleet have entered full service.
Luas Red Line (Originally Luas Line A) was developed with €82.5 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme.