The operators of light rail networks in other countries strongly advised Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) against any attempt to prolong the life of forty Luas trams that have been in service for over twenty years.
TII were told that so-called "life extension" programmes for the vehicles sometimes ended up costing over double what was anticipated.
A review examining the future of the forty original trams from the Luas network said they already had a "very low level of reliability" and that significant investment would be required to bring them back to perfect condition.
It said the 'design life' of the trams was thought to have been 30 years but that in other cities where similar vehicles were in use, they had given around 25 years of useful service.
The report said that while ‘life-extending’ the trams might initially appear a good option with potential savings of €20 million, problems of reliability were likely to continue even after they were modernised.
It said "soundings" had been taken from other countries that operate light rail networks with all but two advising against any life-extension programme "if at all possible".
Transport operators in Boston and Melbourne said they had modernised some of their fleet, but only because they had left it too late to order replacement trams and they effectively had no alternative.
The report said: "They advised that in all cases of life-extension programmes, the final outturn costs compared to the original budgets inclusive of contingencies and risk allocations were always significantly higher, in some cases ‘more than double’."
It added that both Boston and Melbourne had the benefit of heavy engineering facilities and extensive experience of refitting trams, neither of which were available to Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
That meant the forty Irish trams would almost certainly have to be shipped overseas for refitting at "significant financial and, indeed, emissions cost".
The report also explained newer-built trams had enhanced safety-related systems, including "door anti-drag" modifications which could be added to new vehicles at "relatively low cost".
It also warned that efforts to life-extend the forty old trams would require a ‘new rolling stock assessment’ from the Commission for Railway Regulation, which was likely to be "laborious".
The report concluded: "[It is recommended] a Red Line LRV [light rail vehicle] fleet replacement project be initiated.
"It is further recommended that the project examines its replacement by vehicles of similar length and/or longer vehicles as per the Green Line fleet and that it should ensure that other fleet requirements for future network extension projects be accommodated in the procurement arrangements.
"It also suggested that parts of the replaced trams could be re-utilised by cities where similar models were still in use.
A detailed analysis of the old light rail vehicles also revealed that a "service affecting failure" was now occurring every 28 days.
A tram reliability improvement plan in the mid-2010s had brought about temporary improvements; however, this "soon diminished" and the old issues resumed.
Based on the report, Transport Infrastructure Ireland decided it would be better to replace the vehicles and in August, they published a consultation note which said they expected to spend around €300 million on new trams.
In the notice, it said that plans for the extension of the Dublin Luas network were well advanced while a light rail system for Cork was also in the planning phase.
