Talk:Luas

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Contents 1 Naming 2 Operator: Connex? 3 Length of track 4 Nicknames 5 Criticism? 6 Map 7 Surplus

[edit] Naming

The Wikipedia policy on naming of articles is quite clear, re: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English), and the use of English. Moreover the word "LUAS" is more than just an Irish word, it part the corporate brand image which is used to conduct business. The words "Dublin Light Rail System" are a subtitle at best, therefore the article should be under LUAS with a Dublin Light Rail System redirect! Djegan 17:44, 20 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Clarrification - because someone removed all mention - 1) "LUAS" (note caps) was the official name of the system originally, or at least in planning stages and 2) "Dublin Light Rail System" was also used to identify the system before operation. Djegan 21:12, 22 Jun 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Operator: Connex?

According to the artical, LUAS is operated by Veolia Transport Ireland (formerly known as Connex). Now, I was travelling on the Red Line yesterday and noticed that the driver had the word "Connex" on his jumper. (There was a problem with one of the doors, and the driver left the cab to walk back through the tram to attempt to fix it. In the end he gave up and just locked that door.) TRiG 00:35, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Connex is a brand name of Veolia Transport. --Kwekubo 16:47, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Length of track

Does anyone know the length of track of the luas?

Number of trams per line are;

26 Citadis 301A Red Line. Length: 30 metres. Capacity: 235 people (60 seats). 14 Citadis 301A Green Line. Length: 40 metres. Capacity: 300 people (80 seats).

Green Line = 9km Red Line = 15km

When the capacities are corrected for the length of the track the Green line is marginally ahead.

[edit] Nicknames

How widespread is the "Snail on the rail" nickname. It is good - I suspect this one will stick (sorry!). It's really quite apt! I believe the top speed is 45 km/h - it's not in the article, could someone confirm? The Harcourt line of course, had steam locos beating that speed (unsurprisingly) and later DMUs. Bunch of retrograde politicians we had/have. Bah! The Luas passing outside the old Harcourt street station is a brilliant advertisement for the shortsightedness that continues to plague our nation. zoney ▓█▒ talk 12:46, 26 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Several times now, I've heard it referred to as the "Huey" Jlang 11:50, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I've been on it recently and was by the cab, and it got up to 65kmh actually. JOHN COLLISON | (Ludraman) 17:15, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Top speed is 70km/h (from some official RPA documentation). Jlang 17:53, 15 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Yeah. That's just over 40 mph (got my units mixed up!), and that's the top speed! I think "Snail on the Rail" is justified! zoney ♣ talk 23:53, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Ah, leave it alone, wudja - it's a tram not a train! JOHN COLLISON [ Ludraman] 08:15, 17 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Yes, I suspect it compares quite favourably with the likes of the London Underground, which just feels faster because it's in a tunnel --Ryano 14:33, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

The nicknames are silly - especially the "snail on the rail". I've never heard anyone use "snail on the rail". Be honest, if you asked the average Dubliner what the "snail on the rail" was, they wouldn't have a clue. Sure some people might think it's amusing. Personally I don't find it particularly witty; it rhymes but it doesn't make sense - 70km/h is very fast by commuting standards in Dublin. Anyway that's an aside - funny or not, there's no reason to say that it's a nickname for the Luas if only five people out of the whole population of Dublin would recognise it. Any reason not to chop it? User:jimg

I've heard plenty of people call it the "Daniel Day", I've never heard any of the other nicknames in use. --Ryano 14:33, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I see someone has added a qualification to the nicknames sentence. While this improves the paragraph somewhat in terms of accuracy it still reads very poorly. I'd argue that the subclaus " the Jacks on the Tracks, and the Snail on the Rail have been suggested, but such names are not popular and would not be immediately recognised by Dubliners" should be removed altogether - it really adds nothing to the article in terms of information and ruins the tone and flow of the first paragraph. User:jimg

I would suggest that Daniel Day has become accepted by a majority of dubliners as so is the de facto nickname for the luas, anyone argee (Gnevin 20:18, 11 May 2006 (UTC))

Never heard it once. Fabhcún 13:25, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

There is currently a sign on Camden Street/South Richmond Street advertising apartments "just minutes from the Daniel Day". --Ryano 14:16, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I've heard the "Daniel Day" (Lewis) used on several occasions and also the "Jerry Lee" (Lewis) less frequently. One occasion the two lines were described as Daniel and Jerry respectively but I'm unsure which was which, my suspicions is the Green line was named for the Irishman but I couldn't say for sure. Frankly I'd be amazed if any of the other nicknames stick, maybe the "Snail on the Rail" as it fits with the rhyming names but the Luas is popular enough and not so slow that most people would prefer a less derisory nickname. "Jacks on the Tracks" doesn't even make sense since Jacks is slang for toilets. I was prompted to check this article when the Irish Times Saturday supplement February 24, 2007, in which an Irish woman returning to Dublin writes about the reverse culture shock she experienced including both the names Jerry Lee and Daniel Day. I guess that gives the necessary citation, they dont call it "the paper of record" for nothing. -- 00:31, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Criticism?

"There is a greater level of ticket checking than on the DART or Dublin Bus, making fare evasion more difficult". Why is this a criticism?

How amusingly Irish! I suspect someone just slipped up (rather than an editor feeling they should be able to evade fares!) zoney ▓█▒ talk 22:53, 30 Aug 2004 (UTC)

That was indeed funny. I hope the addition I made can add a more innocent (yet honest) motive for making the point. BTW, Zoney, I love the little font/colour blocks in your sig! Krupo 00:25, Aug 31, 2004 (UTC)

There is actually less ticket checking on the luas. Especially in the morning, as it's impossible for ticket inspectors to move around at 9am rushhour. --Jasonm 03:45, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Map

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. This article has been tagged since January 2007.

I'm not familiar with Dublin and I'm trying to get a sense of how this system fits into the city. The map which shows the rail lines floating in a white sea does not really put things in a geographic context. -- Beland 03:37, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Seconded.martianlostinspace 14:09, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

Ok, as a local i'll see if I can come up with something from a free source. Rmkf1982 | Talk 18:38, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

It's not looking good on the map front - does anyone know of any sources for free maps? If I could find one I could merge it with the Luas stops map. Rmkf1982 | Talk 22:03, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

Its going to be very difficult getting a free map (unless as you do what I did and draw your own) for the Luas that is geographically accurate and not simply a symbolic representation of fare zones and tram stops. Djegan 22:10, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Surplus

RTE reports that Luas is now running at a surplus, a year ahead of schedule, and is the only public transit agency in the country not to require subsidy. Ben-w 08:57, 21 June 2006 (UTC)