In the heart of Dublin, a Luas tram crash has led to substantial traffic chaos. The incident took place in Smithfield on a Tuesday morning, resulting in the cancellation or delay of several Luas services. Social media is rife with videos showing passengers evacuating a damaged Red Line tram that was en route to Connolly Station.
The collision incident involved a van, with Dublin Fire Brigade present at the scene. One of the passengers, Tara Beattie, who was on her way to the TechFoundHer conference at Dublin City Hall, narrated the bizarre collision experience occurring at Benburb Street’s junction. Beattie recounted how passengers standing or facing towards the front were flung forward, accompanied by a deafening grinding sound and a severe tremor which felt like the tram had derailed. She witnessed the van retract and realised it was hit. However, it remained unclear who had broken the lights – the van or the tram.
A spokesperson from Luas announced that trams are presently running from Tallaght/Saggart to Blackhorse, while services from Blackhorse to The Point or Connolly Station have been suspended. It was confirmed that the red line services are experiencing delays. The collision caused extensive hold-ups and impeded the traffic along the quays. As a result of the collision, Dublin Bus has agreed to accept Luas tickets.
According to a spokesperson from Dublin City Council’s Traffic and Incident Management Centre, significant traffic persists on the route leading to the collision scene. While gardaí are aware of the incident, more specific details are not available currently.