Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 356: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of passengers carried daily on the Luas; the extent to which this has replaced motor cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5062/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand that the Luas system is carrying 300,000 passengers per week. The average Monday to Friday carryings are 50,000 passengers per day. During last December, there were days where passenger numbers exceeded 70,000. Passenger figures on the Luas system are expected to rise during 2005.

The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Luas on travel patterns. The "Before Luas" survey was carried out in the spring of 2004 and the "After Luas" survey will be carried out when time travel patterns have become established after the introduction of the new service.

The RPA has also carried out less formal research on its customer base and it is clear that a large proportion of Luas users had previously used private vehicles. Apart from car transfers, there also appears to be a significant number of new trips to the city centre for business and-or recreation. This view is shared by city centre businesses which report a substantial increase in business as a result of the Luas, and is reflected in the high levels of Luas usage in the traditional off-peak periods and at weekends.