How they compare
Luas
Journey time: 50 minutes
The widely predicted chaos at the Red Cow Roundabout on the Naas Road, Dublin, failed to materialise yesterday as the capital's second Luas line between Tallaght and Connolly was opened to the public. Journey times were running at 50 minutes in evening rush hour as commuters flocked onto the Tallaght bound carriages for their free passage.
The new carriages swept by bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Naas Road. When the tram reached the infamous Red Cow Roundabout, its passage was halted by two sets of red lights. However, the delay lasted for no more than a minute and the tram was quickly on its way.
The only other red light encountered between the beginning of the journey at Connolly and the end of the line at The Square shopping centre was at the top of the north quays as the Luas crossed the Liffey on to the south side at Heuston station.
There were no queues similar to those for the first Sandyford-bound Luas in July so the crowd control barriers placed at Connolly and Tallaght were perhaps a little ambitious. However, the new trams were all full.
Luas workers at various stops on the line encouraged excited children on board to keep their heads out of the path of the electronic closing doors as the tram pulled away from stops. For the most part, the warnings were successful. The real test for the new line will probably come this morning when rush-hour motorists are given their first real taste of what life is going to be like competing for space with the trams at the Red Cow.
Bus
Journey time: 68 minutes
Leaving Eden Quay at 5.39 p.m., the 77 (fare €1.65) ran straight into evening rush-hour traffic. It took almost 15 minutes to reach the end of Dame Street, by which stage there was standing room only downstairs.
The speed picked up as the bus turned into Cork Street. The bus lanes were superfluous as traffic was light. We passed the Coombe Women's Hospital at 6 p.m. and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin just over 10 minutes later.
It became apparent that had the Luas chosen this route it could have serviced four hospitals instead of two.
By 6.16 p.m. the bus had reached the Halfway House pub on Walkinstown Road. Crossing the Walkinstown roundabout, however, it hit its second major jam since leaving the city centre. A half-mile tailback awaited on Greenhills Road. The bus crawled along at a snail's pace.
Passengers could hear a passing motorist hurl abuse at the bus-driver. "You don't own the f***ing road," the motorist yelled, having found the 77 blocking his path into Green Park.
As we crossed the M50 fly-over, the traffic suddenly eased, and we reached Greenhills Business Park at 6.39 p.m. Five minutes later we were through Tallaght village and outside the front gates of Tallaght hospital. Then, for the first time, passengers caught sight of a Luas tram, stopped at the terminus opposite the Square. The 77 pulled in at the same location at 6.47 p.m., thereby completing its journey from the city in 68 minutes.