Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to reduce overcrowding on the Luas. [23431/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Passenger numbers on the Luas grew by 16% in 2006 and by a further 10% last year when over 28 million passenger trips were made on the system. The RPA has responded to the growth in passenger numbers by extending the length of existing trams and ordering new trams.

Last month, the programme to extend all 26 of the Tallaght line trams from 30 metres to 40 metres was completed, providing a 40% capacity increase on each tram and with a significant impact for the comfort of passengers.

In April of last year, the RPA ordered eight new trams for the two existing Luas lines, four for each line, and these are currently being fabricated in France by Alstom. The first of these new trams are scheduled to be delivered to the RPA in January and, following a period of testing, they will start entering service in the first quarter of next year. The RPA is also examining a number of options to further expand capacity in the coming years.