Good afternoon Everyone,
At the last Luas Disability User Group meeting on March 27th, I had queries
on the delayed roll-out of tram destination announcements on the red line
and the possibility of increasing the number of tram destination
announcements when travelling northbound on the green line from St.
Stephens Green.
From the minutes of the meeting "TIIâs Marketing Manager gave a short
presentation on the new on-board tram announcements, the issue with lack of
storage space for additional announcements and the time between stops to
allow time for additional announcements"
"All users agreed that an increased frequency of on-board announcements was
required between St Stephens Green and OâConnell Upper to allow users time
to alight earlier if needs be."
I hoped the audio announcement system could play the same tram destination
audio file before every or every second station, time permitting but
understand every announcements is a seperate audio file.
I gave at example at the meeting of taking a green line Luas northbound to
Dominick Street (to visit the Ilac Centre) on Saturday, March 24th.
I boarded the tram and it announced Dawson, Westmoreland, OâConnell GPO and
it was only when it left OâConnell GPO that there was Tram Destination
Parnell announced.
I subsequently exited the tram at OâConnell Upper and boarded the next tram
which was going believe it or not to Parnell so I ended up going round in
circles.
While I will ask any fellow passengers what is the destination, most people
were travelling to Dawson St or OâConnell St GPO so were unsure.
There is a suitable time gap to add another tram destination announcement
between St. Stephens Green and Dawson St.
This would allow passengers to alight at Dawson and take the next tram.
There should also be a tram destination announcement between Dawson and
Westmoreland.
As far as I understand 2 in every 3 trams loops to Parnell with the other
going to Broombridge.
The Green line travelling southbound manages to squeeze in a tram
destination announcement on average every second stop when stops are close
together at in many cases at every stop.
While there is a Luas VI app, most people who are blind or visually
impaired are reluctant to use their smart phone in public.
I myself had an iphone stolen at the Museum Luas stop in 2013 so ask fellow
passengers.
While there is a help point, they can be at 4 different location so
difficult to remember and also very easy to get unnecessary knocks while
navigating around poles etc.
Here is an edited bodycam video/audio of Luas Green line next station
announcements from St. Stephens Green to O'Connell Street (2 minutes long).
2 in every 3 trams loop to Parnell Street with the others going to
Broombridge.
The tram destination is only announced when the tram leaves O'Connell
Street GPO
Link: https://youtu.be/BpyoJph0lC0
I mentioned the addition of a "please move down the tram" and "If you are
staying on the tram, please move away from the doors to allow passengers to
board." announcements in English which was added in early January.
I understand these were to be removed but they were however still present
on my journey from St. Stephens Green to Broombridge last Saturday, May
12th.
Just like my previous experience on March 24th, I alighted at O'Connell
Upper when I heard Parnell was the tram destination and boarded the next
tram which was also going to Parnell (so I ended up going round in circles).
Other passengers who I asked were unsure what the tram destination was as
they were going to Dawson or O'Connell Street GPO.
I have asked Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Transdev for an update on
this and will keep you posted.
Best wishes,
Barry (Luas Disability User Group Rep for Fighting Blindness).
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