2012 HAS MARKED the most successful year to date for the Luas tram service in Dublin with 29.4 million passenger journeys last year, according to new figures.

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has said that passenger numbers are up by approxiamtely 300,000 on figures for 2011 when there were just over 29 million passenger journeys.

The RPA pointed out that these numbers have come despite a week’s service being lost due to a major fire adjacent to the Luas Red Line in March which restricted journeys between Tallaght and Dublin city centre.

The Luas was at its busiest in August during the Tall Ships festival and during December when shoppers and party-goers were out in force during the Christmas season.

“We have worked hard to reduce costs on the one hand and to increase passenger numbers on the other and we are delighted with the increase in passenger numbers for 2012, which certainly bucks the trend,” RPA chief executive Rory O’Connor said today.

Work is to begin to link the two Luas tram lines later this year after An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the 5.6 kilometre extension from the green line’s St Stephen’s Green stop to Broombridge via O’Connell Street where the red line runs.

When it is completed in 2017 the linked line is expected to generate an extra 10 million passenger journeys in a full calendar year.

Read: Commuters see price increases on buses, trains and trams

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