Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is seeking Cabinet approval to fast-track the Luas Green Line extension to Finglas, aiming for completion by 2031. The project would serve over 60,000 residents, offering a 30-minute commute from Charlestown to St Stephen's Green.

The long-awaited extension of the Luas Green Line to Finglas may finally be fast-tracked, with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan expected to seek Cabinet approval for the project this week. The proposed extension, which has been under consideration since the Green Line was extended to Broombridge in 2017, would serve over 60,000 residents, including the future new town of Jamestown.

The initial extension to Broombridge, designed to pave the way for a future link to Finglas, opened in 2017. A preferred route for the Finglas extension was selected, featuring four new stops: St Helena's, Finglas Village, St Margaret's Road, and Charlestown. However, progress stalled as attention shifted to other major rail projects, such as the MetroLink, designed to serve northern Dublin.

Luas Extension Plan - Credit to the Luas Finglas website

Now, Minister Eamon Ryan is pushing to accelerate the Finglas project, with the goal of bringing its completion date forward by five years. According to The Irish Times, he was set to present the proposal to Cabinet yesterday. If approved, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would be able to seek planning permission from An Bord Pleanála, potentially moving the projected completion date to 2031.

Once completed, the new Luas line would allow passengers to travel from Charlestown to St Stephen’s Green in around 30 minutes. It would also provide vital transport links through interchanges with rail services at Broombridge, enhancing connectivity for the residents of Finglas and beyond.