New Luas Operating Contract Awarded

New Luas Operating Contract Awarded Transdev wins 5 Year €150m Contract

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe T.D. was on hand today to witness the signing by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited of the new Luas operation contract, which includes responsibility for the maintenance of the Luas infrastructure and rolling stock through a number of novated maintenance contracts.

The existing Luas operation contract, which is between the Railway Procurement Agency and Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited, is due to expire on the 28th September 2014. Operational services under the new contract will commence on 29th September 2014. The new contract will be between the National Transport Authority, the Railway Procurement Agency and Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited and is for a period of 5 years. The new contract is worth approximately €150,000,000.

The contract was awarded following a robust procurement competition which was conducted according to internationally recognised best practice principles for the industry.
Due to savings achieved from the tendering of the new Luas Operating Contract and the significant growth in passenger numbers over the last two years, Luas will return to an operating surplus in 2015.

Speaking at the signing of the new contract, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, said: ‘The success of the Luas is evidenced by the fact that passenger numbers last year exceed 30 million; a massive increase of 8 million on 2005, when the Luas was first introduced to Dublin. Those numbers are only set to grow into the future with the development of the Luas Cross City, which will link the Red and Green lines and create a truly integrated public transport system in Dublin for the first time. I would like to congratulate Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited on successfully securing the contract after a competitive procurement process and wish them every success in the years ahead’.

Rory O’Connor, Acting Chief Executive of RPA, and Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive of the NTA noted that it had been a very successful outcome of the tender process: “Transdev submitted a very strong proposal in terms of both price and quality. Luas customers can look forward to some significant positive changes in their Luas journey in the coming year”.

Brian Brennan, Managing Director of Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited said, “We are very pleased Transdev was awarded the contract to operate Luas for the next five years following a very competitive tendering process. The renewal of the contract is the result of the work done by Transdev over the last ten years; our ability to adapt to changing requirements of our client and to provide a safe, reliable tram service to Luas customers and the city of Dublin.
We look forward to the future, to growing passenger numbers, and are excited to have the opportunity to operate, when complete, what is now known as Luas Cross City.”