Project Overview Luas Line BX
Luas Line BX is the proposed cross city Luas Line that will provide a link between the Red and Green Lines and importantly, will allow an onward extension to Broombridge via Grangegorman and Broadstone. It is intended that a Railway Order application will be made for the combined Luas Line BX and Line D in 2009.
The line will serve major shopping and business districts and institutions of national and international importance in Dublin City centre. Onward extension will serve the major Dublin Institute of Technology development plans for Grangegorman and allow interchange with Maynooth rail line services at Broombridge. Stops on Luas Line BX are proposed at St. Stephen’s Green, Dawson Street, Westmoreland Street, O’Connell Street, Cathal Brugha Street, Marlborough Street, and on College Street.
The line will incorporate a new bridge over the river Liffey east of O’Connell Bridge linking Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street and opening a range of possibilities for the movement and routing of public transport vehicles. This new bridge is being developed and procured by Dublin City Council.
The line will be an extension northward from St. Stephen’s Green of the highly popular Luas Green Line.
Luas Line BX is part of the Government's Transport 21 investment programme.
To find out more about a particular phase or to view published information for this line, please click on one of the phases below.
In January 2005, following the opening of the Luas system to passenger services in 2004, RPA undertook an attitudinal survey of Luas passengers and sought opinions on the need for a cross city Luas line and views on possible station locations. The overwhelming response was one of strong support for a cross city Luas line which would link the Green and Red Lines.
In March 2007 RPA selected Option F, the sixth option identified following the launch of public consultation, which was shown in the January 2007 Luas City Centre Link-Up Newsletter as its Preferred Route Option.
After selecting the best overall route option with input from the public consultation process, RPA then focusses on determining the precise alignment of the tracks, the identification and the selection of stop locations. A great deal of thought must be given to access issues, how traffic will be managed and the location of necessary structures etc.
This phase will entail RPA submitting a Railway Order Application to An Bord Pleanala under the provisions of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act, 2006 to construct, operate and maintain Luas Line BX.
During this phase of the Luas Line BX project, RPA contractors and sub-contractors will begin to construct the approved light rail line based on detailed design drawings. Realignment of utilities, laying of track foundations and track, stop construction, the erection of overhead power supply lines, landscaping and other construction works will be undertaken.
Following the successful pre-launch testing of Luas Line BX, RPA will begin passenger services of the new line through a selected operator.