Dublin’s Luas network is operating on a split service this weekend as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) carries out essential engineering works on the Red Line track between Heuston Station and the Tallaght / Saggart terminus. From first tram on Saturday 17 October until last tram on Sunday 18 October, no trams are serving the twelve-kilometre western section of the line. Instead, a fleet of double-deck coaches branded ‘Luas Replacement Bus’ is running every 15 minutes, honouring Luas tickets, TFI Leap cards and Free-Travel passes. Trams continue to operate on the eastern leg between Heuston and The Point, maintaining connectivity with the Docklands and Convention Centre. The closure allows engineers to grind rails, replace points and carry out signalling tests that cannot be completed while the line is live. TII says the preventative maintenance extends track life and avoids unplanned mid-week failures. Night-time noise has been flagged to local residents, but contractors are using acoustic matting around generators and lighting towers to minimise disruption. For corporates, the Red Line is the main link between Dublin’s city centre hotels and the pharmaceutical and technology clusters in Citywest and Tallaght. Multinational firms have been advised to add 20–30 minutes to journey times and to remind visiting staff that Luas tickets must still be validated before boarding the bus. Conference organisers at the Convention Centre report only minor timetable tweaks, but some early-morning flight crews staying in Tallaght have switched to taxi shuttles to guarantee check-in times. Dublin Chamber of Commerce welcomed the clear advance notice, noting that weekend works are preferable to weekday peak closures. However, it urged the National Transport Authority to publish a five-year track-renewal calendar so hotels and tour operators can plan ahead. The next full-line shutdown is scheduled for February 2027 when the new Digital-Signalling overlay is installed. Travellers can follow @Luas and @TFIupdates on X for live updates or call the Luas Customer Care line on 0818 300 604. Normal tram service is due to resume with the 05:30 departure from Tallaght on Monday 19 October.
Source: Transport for Ireland
