Transdev's pre-tax losses shrink by 61% in the operator's sector.
In the heart of Dublin city centre, on November 23rd, 2023, a Luas tram was set alight during a riot, causing severe damage. The damaged tram, identified as number 5037, will not return to service until early 2026, marking a repair timeline of over a year since the incident[1][2].
The financial impact of the riot on the Luas operator, Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd (TDLR), has been reflected in the company's 2023 financial reports. Pretax losses have narrowed significantly by 61% to €3.53 million[1][2]. While the direct repair cost of the tram alone is not itemized, these losses reflect the overall financial toll including riot damage and operational disruptions.
Despite the setbacks, the Luas network itself has continued to operate normally. As of July 2025, both the Red and Green lines are running without any reported ongoing service impacts due to the riot damage. Some infrastructure upgrades are underway unrelated to the riots, such as the Connolly stop lift being out of service until mid-September for upgrades[5].
In the aftermath of the riot, staff numbers for Luas increased from 603 in 2023 to 648, and staff costs rose from €33.66 million to €37.16 million in the same year[3]. However, Luas revenues rose by 13% from €81.7 million to €92.38 million in 2023[3].
During the riot, the tram driver evacuated all passengers and secured the tram, ensuring no injuries occurred. This strong public confidence and the essential role Luas plays in Dublin's transport network have continued to contribute to its high performance and passenger numbers[4].
As of now, there is no publicly available information about a new contract related to the Luas following these events. TDLR remains the operator, managing day-to-day services and recovery from the riot impacts[1][2][5].
The strong recovery of Luas following the pandemic was reflected in the 54 million passenger journeys recorded in 2024. A key trend in 2025 for Luas was a notable increase in weekend travel, driven by growing demand related to retail, events, and leisure[4].
References: [1] Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd (TDLR) Annual Report 2023 [2] Dublin City Council Report on November 23rd, 2023 Riot [3] Luas Annual Report 2023 [4] Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Luas Performance Report 2025 [5] Luas Infrastructure Upgrade Schedule 2025
- The financial impact of the riot on the transport industry, specifically Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd (TDLR), has prompted a rise in staff costs within the public-transit sector, despite a significant narrowing of pretax losses.
- Despite the ongoing repair and infrastructure upgrades in the post-riot period, the finance department of TDLR has managed to increase revenues in the public-transit industry, showing a resilient strong performance for the Luas transportation network.
