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Six One News: Orla O'Donnell, Dublin Correspondent, reports that demand for the city light rail system has exceeded all expectation
The Railway Procurement Agency, which set up Luas, was to announce today that the light rail made a financial surplus for 2005.
The figures mean the system has achieved a surplus a year ahead of schedule and will no longer require Government grants.
The Luas system cost €775 million to build. The first line to Sandyford in Dublin began services two years ago and the second line to Tallaght opened shortly afterwards.
Last year an average of more than 60,000 people travelled on the system daily, and the numbers using the system are growing. In May of this year they had increased 30% from May 2005.
Later today the RPA will say Luas is the only public transport system operating without subsidies in Ireland.
