Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has assigned an approximate value of €1.75 billion to the forthcoming LUAS operation and maintenance contract.
According to newly released tender documentation, TII expects the LUAS Operations and Maintenance Contract to commence operations in either Quarter 2 or 3 of 2026. This contract is set for a seven-year duration initially, with an option to extend for an additional five to seven years.
With last year’s passenger journeys on LUAS reaching 48.2 million, and with anticipated system expansion, TII has issued an ‘Information Memorandum and Pre-qualification Questionnaire’ to pre-qualify candidates for the operation and maintenance of LUAS.
Interested parties, including consortia, seeking pre-qualification must demonstrate annual revenues exceeding €200 million averaged over the past three audited financial years.
Following the pre-qualification stage, TII intends to shortlist a minimum of three to a maximum of five candidates for invitation to tender.
Presently, LUAS is managed by Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited, a French firm. The current Transdev contract is due to expire in November 2025. The National Transport Authority (NTA) and TII expect to extend this contract to facilitate the reprocurement process.
TII has outlined an indicative timetable for the tender award process. The deadline for pre-qualification submissions is July 31st. Submissions will be evaluated between August and October, with an invitation to tender notice issued to shortlisted candidates in January of the following year.
The deadline for tenders is June 2025, with the contract expected to be awarded in November 2025.
Regarding the new LUAS contract, a Transdev spokeswoman stated last month: “Transdev looks forward to the launch of the tender process for the new Luas Contract and will assess the proposed new contract once published.”
LUAS comprises two distinct lines, the Red Line and the Green Line, covering 42.5 kilometers of track and utilizing a fleet of 81 light rail vehicles.
Additionally, the documentation reveals plans for the next LUAS extension, Luas Finglas, which will establish a new public transport link between Charlestown, Finglas Village, Finglas West, St. Helena’s, Tolka Valley, and the city center. This proposed route spans 3.9 kilometers, with an expected opening date between 2028 and 2032.
The most recent financial records for Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd show revenues of €59.47 million in 2020, with Covid-19-related pre-tax losses amounting to €3.2 million
