The projected cost of operating and maintaining Dublin’s Luas light rail system for the forthcoming contractual term is expected to be around €1.75 billion, reports Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
The start of this term could be mid-2026 and could span seven years, with the opportunity for an additional five to seven-year extension. In 2020, Luas accommodated 48.2 million passenger trips, with further growth in usage anticipated by TII.
Potential tenders, including group bids, are being vetted through an “information memorandum and pre-qualification questionnaire”. Candidates will need to showcase yearly revenues above €200 million, ascertained by their prior three audited financial years.
TII has confirmed that, following the qualifying phase, it will shortlist between three and five candidates who will then be invited to submit tenders. Alongside these plans is a probable extension of the current contract, operated by French firm Transdev through Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd, set to end in November 2025. This extension would ensure a smooth re-procurement process.
Key dates in the tendering timetable include a pre-qualification submission cut-off of 31 July, after which submissions will be evaluated between August and October. The final call for tenders will be in June 2025, and the contract will be awarded in November 2025.
Luas, which comprises distinct red and green lines and a 42.5km track serviced by 81 light rail vehicles, is poised for expansion. The next planned extension is the Luas Finglas on the green line. This extension, a 3.9km line anticipated to open between 2028 and 2032, will link Charlestown, Finglas Village, Finglas West, St. Helena’s, Tolka Valley with Dublin city centre.
The latest financial reports for Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd highlight a revenue intake of €59.47 million during 2020. However, the records also reveal a pretax deficit of €3.2 million, primarily associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.