KeolisAmey Takes Over Dublin's Luas Tram Network Under €1.3bn Contract

KeolisAmey Luas has formally taken over operation and maintenance of Dublin's Luas light rail network, assuming full responsibility for the 44 km, 67-stop system on September 1 under a contract with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) worth up to €1.3 billion.

The contract, awarded in March, runs for an initial seven-year term with an optional extension of up to six years. The joint venture — 65% owned by Keolis and 35% by Amey — succeeds Transdev, which had operated the tram network since it opened in 2004, with the network's roughly 680 employees transferring to the new operator.

Keolis says its service improvement programme for Luas includes an initial deep clean of all 67 stops, the rollout of operations and maintenance processes used on its other networks, and remote condition monitoring of trams and infrastructure to detect and prevent faults. The network carries more than 55 million passengers a year, and TII and the National Transport Authority are planning further extensions as Dublin's population grows.

The win establishes Keolis in Ireland — its 14th country of operation — and builds on KeolisAmey's UK record on London's Docklands Light Railway, where its contract was renewed in 2024, and Manchester's Metrolink, which it has operated since 2017.

"The trust shown by TII and the NTA is a testament to Keolis' recognised and proven expertise in operating large-scale tram systems," said Keolis Group International CEO Laurence Broseta.