A Small Thing in the Scheme of Dublin's Transport Problems, but ...

Dublin South Labour candidate, Cllr Aidan Culhane, has expressed disappointment at the decision to turn Luas trams into moving billboards. Entire trams will be available to advertisers to “paint” as they wish, paving the way for corporate coloured Luas trams at a cost of €200,000.

“The Luas has become a symbol of a newer, modern, cosmopolitan Dublin”, said Culhane. “It seems a pity to flog off the elegant looking Luas trams as advertising space. “Even though it’s running less than two years, Dubliners have great pride and affection in their new transport system. Rather than looking to make every last penny from ad revenue, we should be looking to keep the Luas ad-free. I have advertised inside the Luas myself, and I think that there are plenty of opportunites for advertisers to get their message out through ads in the trams at at the stops.”

Cllr Culhane said that the issue was minor in the scheme of Dublin’s transport problems, but stressed that there was a benefit to keeping the existing Luas livery. “The Luas is first and foremost a transport system, it goes without saying, but when you look at London’s red double-deckers or Paris’ art deco Metro signs, public transport does contribute to the identity and image of the city. Do the existing sleek silver vehicles not make more of a statement about how the city sees itself than a Vodafone coloured tube?”