Summary

Dublin, like many major cities, was facing a challenge with its transportation infrastructure. The city’s population was growing, and with it, traffic congestion and pollution levels. As more and more people moved into the city and its suburbs, there was a pressing need for a more efficient and sustainable transportation system. And so, the idea of the Luas was born. The light rail system was designed to provide a fast and reliable way for people to travel around the city, without adding to the traffic congestion and pollution levels. The Luas is powered by electricity and operates on tracks that are separate from the main roads, making it a cleaner and more efficient mode of transportation. 

The project was launched in the 1990s and involved the construction of new tram tracks, stations, and supporting infrastructure throughout the city of Dublin. Coen Steel, a Reinforcement Steel Fabricator and construction company based in Galway, was one of a number of companies involved in the construction of this mammoth project.

Our involvement began in the early 2000s, when we were contracted to supply Reinforcement Steel for key aspects of the project. One of the components of the build was the construction of the Red Cow tram depot, which required us to supply a significant amount of Reinforcement Steel to support the roof and other structural elements. 

In addition to the Red Cow depot, we also supplied Special Mesh Reinforcement Steel for the track construction and station construction aspects of the Luas. The company provided steel for the track rails, sleepers, and other supporting components, as well as the station platforms. This involved working closely with other contractors and project managers to ensure that the steel components were delivered on time and to the required quality standards.

By supplying Reinforcement Steel for key components of the project, Coen Steel played an important role in the timely completion of the Luas system build. 

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 48.3 million passengers travelled on the Luas in 2019 (pre-pandemic). Today, the Luas system is an important part of Dublin’s public transportation network, and we at Coen Steel are exceptionally proud of our part in bringing this impactful infrastructure project to fruition.

Challenges

• Logistics within Dublin City Centre
• The construction of the Luas was a large-scale project that involved the coordination of many different companies and contractors. Manufacturing and delivery had to be timed meticulously to avoid repercussions for other teams.

End Results

Successfully delivered on time and within budget.