1994 - Luas
The Dublin Transportation Initiative (DTI) report of April 1994 included a wide-ranging set of recommendations aimed at realising clearly identified transportation, land use and environmental objectives for the Greater Dublin Area.
The report recommended the establishment of a three-line Light Rail Transit (LRT) system linking Tallaght, Ballymun and Cabinteely to the City Centre.
In October 1994 the Government requested CIÉ to begin preliminary work on the establishment of the system. Reflecting the availability of funding, after careful study, the following phasing was recommended:
Phase 1: Tallaght to Dundrum/Balally via the City Centre
Phase 2: Ballymun to the City Centre and Dundrum/Balally to Sandyford
1996 - Luas
In July 1996 the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act, 1996 was enacted. This Act provided a legal framework within which CIÉ might apply to the then Minister for Public Enterprise for 'Light Railway Orders' (LRO's) granting CIÉ powers to construct, operate and maintain light railways. The holding of a public inquiry in respect of each application was a mandatory requirement of the Act.
1997 - Luas
In May 1997 CIÉ submitted an application for an LRO for Phase 1 and the Government committed additional funding for the extension of the line from Dundrum/Balally to Sandyford Industrial Estate.
A public inquiry was opened in July 1997 but was adjourned pending the findings of a Government commissioned consultant report on the option of constructing the LRT system underground in the City Centre.
The consultants were commissioned in October 1997 and reported in April 1998. The report concluded that a surface system would be the most appropriate and cost effective option in meeting the transport needs of the city and providing capacity to meet long-term passenger demands.
1998 - Luas
In May 1998 the Government decided to proceed with an LRT system comprising a surface line from Tallaght to Connolly Station (based on the CIÉ preferred surface alignment from Tallaght to O'Connell Street) and a line from Sandyford Industrial Estate to Ballymun and Dublin Airport using the Harcourt Street and Broadstone disused railway alignments. The Government also decided that a section of the LRT system would run underground in the City Centre between St. Stephen's Green and Broadstone.
In line with the Government's decision, CIÉ withdrew the application, which it had submitted in respect of a line from Tallaght to Dundrum/Balally, and a subsequent application, which it had made in respect of an extension from Dundrum/Balally to Sandyford Industrial Estate.
The CIÉ Light Rail Project Office now set about implementing the plan for the first phase of Luas in line with the Government's decision of May 1998.
2000 - Luas
In July 2000 the Minister for Public Enterprise announced that the Government had approved in principle the development of a Metro system on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. The Minister also confirmed that the St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford Industrial Estate Line was to be constructed in accordance with the Light Railway Order made in 1999 and, in time, would be integrated with the Metro system.
In October 2000 the Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) published 'A Platform for Change - Outline of an integrated transportation strategy for the Greater Dublin Area - 2000 to 2016' incorporating Luas and Metro lines, the latter as previously announced.
The DTO strategy provides an overall planning framework for the development of the transport system in the Greater Dublin Area and the Government has confirmed that it accepts the broad thrust of the strategy. Some of the Luas lines incorporated in the DTO strategy are currently being constructed or are at planning stage. Other Luas lines and the Metro system must now be taken through a detailed planning process involving, as appropriate, route selection, public consultation, technical feasibility studies, economic and environmental evaluations, detailed design and statutory approval procedures.
2001 - RPA
In December 2001 the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 was enacted and the Transport (Dublin Light Rail) Act 1996 was repealed. The new Act contains provisions similar to the repealed act in respect of Luas and Metro systems, facilitated the exploitation of the benefits of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP's) in developing Luas and Metro systems and provided for the establishment of RPA as an independent statutory agency responsible for the procurement of railway infrastructure systems.
On December 28th 2001 RPA was established. RPA subsumed the role of the former CIÉ Light Rail Project Office. The first RPA board meeting was held in January 2002.
2002 - Luas
In February 2002 the Minister for Public Enterprise announced that Connex Transport (now Veolia Transport Ireland) was the preferred bidder for the Luas operator franchise.
In May 2002 RPA entered into a five-year contract with Connex Transport (now Veolia Transport Ireland) to operate and maintain Luas. Connex, now Veolia is part of a French infrastructure and environmental services group with extensive experience in operating public transport systems. RPA also entered into a fifteen-year contract with Alstom Transport S.A. to maintain light rail vehicles. This contract was novated to Connex Transport (now Veolia Transport Ireland) in April 2004.
2002 - Metro
In January 2002, the Government asked RPA to prepare a detailed business case for the Dublin Metro and to examine how it might be progressed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). RPA were also instructed to begin the procurement process by seeking expressions of interest from international suppliers and contractors.
The project was launched in March 2002 at an event in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel, attended by over three hundred representatives of the world's leading operators, railway equipment suppliers and contractors.
In June 2002, the Government confirmed its commitment to the Metro project, and to progressing the first phase of the Metro from Dublin's City Centre to the airport, in its 5-year Programme for Government. In November 2002, RPA submitted a comprehensive Outline Business Case for the Metro to Government, drawing together the work of RPA on the project's many aspects, including its costs, benefits, alignment options, the potential for associated property development, financing and commercial structuring options, the cost to Government and choices of procurement strategy. At the same time, the RPA prequalified 22 international companies and consortia, including all of the leading companies involved in building and operating Metros around the world.
2002 – Integrated Ticketing Scheme
In February 2002, the then Minister for Public Enterprise added a very significant function to RPA's mandate by giving it responsibility to achieve the implementation of integrated ticketing systems between the different providers of public transport.
In December 2002, the ITS Project Team developed a detailed project plan that was presented to the Department of Transport in December 2002.
The plan envisaged a four-phase project:
- Establishment - Completed
- Design and specification - Completed
- Procurement – In Progress
- Implementation – Phased implementation to commence following completion of the build of the back office systems. ITS smart cards are being introduced on individual operator’s services before being rolled out across all operators on an integrated basis once extensive testing has been completed.
In September 2008, RPA announced the contract to supply back office for the Integrated Ticketing Scheme was awarded to IBM. The system to be developed is based on the best-in-class system in Singapore. IBM will be supported by their sub-contractor, MSI, to modify the Singapore system to meet the needs of Dublin.
The Integrated Ticketing Scheme will commence roll-out to customers during 2010.
2003 - Luas
In October 2003 the first gauge runs from Red Cow Depot to Tallaght Stop (Red Line) were completed successfully.
2003 - Metro
Following concerns regarding the affordability of the project, RPA submitted a revised Metro proposal to government in June 2003, drawing on international experience that provides a shorter route between the City Centre and the airport with fewer stations.
2004 - Luas
In February 2004 the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, witnessed the first gauge run of the tram over the new Taney Bridge at Dundrum. Also the Mayor for Dublin, Royston Brady, helps lay the last piece of track at Connolly Station.
In March 2004 the first gauge runs from Sandyford Industrial Estate to St. Stephen's Green (Green Line) and Red Cow to Abbey Street (Red Line) were completed.
In May 2004 Scheidt and Bachmann were awarded the contract for the Automated Fare Collection System.
On 30th June 2004 Dublin’s first light rail line the Green line which links Sandyford in South Co. Dublin with St. Stephens Green in the City Centre was officially opened by the late Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan T.D.
In September 2004 the new Luas line (Red Line), which links Connolly Station with Tallaght, was officially opened by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern T.D.
2004 - Integrated Ticketing Scheme
In April 2004 RPA's Integrated Ticketing Department launched a smart card system for a private bus operator.
2005
In November 2005 the Department of Transport published details of a comprehensive transport plan-Transport 21.
Under Transport 21 RPA is responsible for the development of five extensions to the Luas system, one new Luas Line and two new Metro Lines.
Luas Citywest (A1)
Luas Cherrywood (B1)
Luas Bray/Fassaroe (B2)
Luas City Centre Link (BX)
Luas Docklands (C1)
Luas Broombridge (D)
Luas Rathfarnham Study (E)
Luas Lucan (F)
Metro Airport/Swords (Metro North)
Metro Orbital (Metro West)