THREE-QUARTERS OF all public disorder cases on the Luas tram service in Dublin occur on the Red Line which runs from Saggart in south west Dublin to The Point in the city’s docklands.
Figures released from Veolia Transport, which operates the Luas service, show that the Green and Red Lines carried over 29 million passengers last year, an increase of 6 per cent.
There was an 11 per cent increase in the number of public disorder cases with 970 instances last year compared to 870 in 2010 .
Of these the vast majority were for antisocial behaviour of which there were 775 incidents, there were 128 threats to staff and 67 threats to the public, all up from 2010 figures.
The company said that 44 cases for anti social behaviour were taken to court.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said that Luas staff were subjected to racial discrimination and abuse while carrying out their daily duties. It carried out a report into instances of abuse against ethnic minorities and made recommendations to Veolia on better ways to assist staff affected by discrimination.
Veolia said that 75 per cent of public disorder cases occurred on the Luas Red Line which carries 45,000 passengers daily and has 32 stops. It runs from Saggart through Tallaght, City West, the Red Cow, St James’s Hospital and finishes in Dublin’s docklands.
By contrast the Luas Green Line carries fewer passengers – 35,000 – and has 22 stops. It runs from Brides Glen through Sandyford, Dundrum and Ranelagh, finishing at St Stephen’s Green.
Veolia pointed out that antisocial behaviour is increasing in Dublin and is not particular to the Luas. The company said that STT Security guards now patrol the Red Line from 10am until the last tram seven days a week and the Green Line from 17.30 to last tram.
The company also said that it was working with school children and community groups in order to forge a relationship with them “and give them ownership of the tram being the best mode of transport for them and their community.”
It also said that overall satisfaction with its service was 97 per cent.
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