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Dublin’s Luas network is entering a pivotal transition in 2026, as KeolisAmey takes over operations and maintenance in a multi‑billion‑euro contract that will shape the future of light rail in Ireland’s capital for at least the next decade.
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From Transdev Era to a New Operator
The Luas light rail system has been operated by Transdev since services began in 2004, with the current operations and maintenance contract running from December 2019 and scheduled to expire at the end of August 2026, according to publicly available contract documentation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/public-transport/operations-and-maintenance/operation-and-maintenance/?utm_source=openai))
Following a competitive tender process launched by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and TII, reports in early 2026 indicated that Transdev had not been selected to continue as Luas operator after more than two decades, with the concession instead awarded to a joint venture between French transport group Keolis and UK-based infrastructure company Amey. ([rte.ie](https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/0226/1560592-transdev-loses-dublin-luas-contract-after-22-years/?utm_source=openai))
TII and the NTA subsequently confirmed that KeolisAmey will run Dublin’s tram network under the “next generation” Luas Operations and Maintenance contract. The new agreement is described as a major change in the long-term stewardship of the system, which carried more than 55 million passenger journeys per year prior to the transition. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/news/press-releases/next-generation-luas-om-contract-awarded-to-keolis-and-amey-joint-venture/?utm_source=openai))
The change of operator comes as Luas is expected to play a growing role in Dublin’s wider public transport strategy, sitting alongside projects such as BusConnects and the planned MetroLink, and as policymakers seek to shift more trips from private cars to rail-based options. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/news/press-releases/joint-committee-on-transport-meeting-of-the-committee-with-transport-infrastructure-ireland-on-wednesday-19-november-2025/?utm_source=openai))
Key Dates, Contract Value and Duration
According to TII’s March 2026 announcement, KeolisAmey is scheduled to begin operating and maintaining Luas from 1 September 2026, immediately after the expiry of the current Transdev contract at the end of August. This timing is designed to avoid any gap in service and to provide a defined handover period between the outgoing and incoming operators. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/public-transport/operations-and-maintenance/operation-and-maintenance/?utm_source=openai))
The contract is valued at around €1.3 billion over its initial term, according to both TII and Keolis Group publications. The base contract period is seven years, with options to extend for up to a further six years, meaning KeolisAmey could remain at the helm into the late 2030s if extension options are exercised. ([keolis.com](https://www.keolis.com/en/newsroom-en/press-releases/keolis-group-secures-contract-for-luas-dublins-iconic-tram-network?utm_source=openai))
Procurement documents published through the European Union’s tender portal show that the Luas operations and maintenance contract was envisioned as a long-duration agreement covering day-to-day operations, infrastructure upkeep and rolling stock maintenance, with an anticipated start in the final quarter of 2026 and significant extension options. The March 2026 contract award confirms that this framework has now been translated into a concrete deal. ([op.europa.eu](https://op.europa.eu/en/web/public-procurement/procurement-details/-/procurement/556afc04-e624-3ecd-b67a-ca6ea4990ed2?utm_source=openai))
Reports indicate that the overall value of the new concession is slightly lower than some initial estimates for a full contract cycle, reflecting both competitive bidding and evolving contract structures. Nonetheless, the figure still represents one of the largest single public transport operating contracts currently on the island of Ireland. ([rte.ie](https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/0226/1560592-transdev-loses-dublin-luas-contract-after-22-years/?utm_source=openai))
What Changes for Passengers on the Ground
For everyday Luas users, most of the change is expected to be behind the scenes rather than immediately visible on 1 September 2026. Publicly available information about the contract structure indicates that fares, service levels and timetables are set by the NTA, while the private operator is paid under a performance-based management contract. That means ticketing and the Leap card system should remain consistent, even as a new company runs the trams. ([nationaltransport.ie](https://www.nationaltransport.ie/public-transport-services/public-transport-contracts/luas/?utm_source=openai))
KeolisAmey publications describe a focus on reliability, safety and customer experience, drawing on its experience operating high-frequency light rail systems such as London’s Docklands Light Railway and Manchester Metrolink. In those cities the joint venture has emphasised punctuality, passenger information and station environment improvements, and the company indicates that similar priorities will underpin its approach in Dublin. ([keolis.com](https://www.keolis.com/en/newsroom-en/press-releases/keolis-group-secures-contract-for-luas-dublins-iconic-tram-network?utm_source=openai))
Staffing is another key concern for passengers. Coverage of the contract award notes that Luas employees are expected to transfer over to KeolisAmey under standard protections, reducing the risk of disruption related to recruitment or loss of operational knowledge. This model has been used widely in other franchised rail and tram transitions in Europe and is intended to provide continuity of front-line staff while changing the corporate entity holding the contract. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/irelandtransport/comments/1rfkzp4/transdev_loses_175bn_luas_contract_after_running/?utm_source=openai))
In the short term, passengers may notice branding updates on trams, uniforms and stations as KeolisAmey’s identity is introduced alongside existing Luas and TFI (Transport for Ireland) branding. Any more substantial timetable or service pattern changes would typically be introduced gradually, guided by NTA planning processes rather than by the operator alone. ([nationaltransport.ie](https://www.nationaltransport.ie/public-transport-services/public-transport-contracts/luas/?utm_source=openai))
Inside the New Operations and Maintenance Model
Transport Infrastructure Ireland describes the Luas operating agreement as a gross cost, performance-linked management contract. Under this structure, fare revenue flows to the transport authorities while the operator is paid an agreed fee, with financial incentives linked to metrics such as punctuality, reliability, cleanliness and customer satisfaction. That model remains in place under the new KeolisAmey contract. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/public-transport/operations-and-maintenance/operation-and-maintenance/?utm_source=openai))
Procurement documentation indicates that the scope of the contract covers train operations, infrastructure and systems maintenance, and the upkeep of the light rail fleet, including periodic heavy overhauls. The objective is to bundle responsibilities that were previously split into separate contracts into a single integrated package, giving the operator clearer accountability for the whole end-to-end service. ([etenders.gov.ie](https://www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/notices/downloadNoticeForES.do?noticeType=prompt.notice.name.5&resourceId=2779980&utm_source=openai))
KeolisAmey has highlighted its record in similar integrated contracts in the United Kingdom, where it operates systems that combine intensive urban operations with complex maintenance requirements. Industry coverage of those contracts notes that performance incentives can be strong, but also place significant pressure on operators to optimise maintenance planning, staffing and incident response. ([keolis.com](https://www.keolis.com/en/newsroom-en/press-releases/keolis-group-secures-contract-for-luas-dublins-iconic-tram-network?utm_source=openai))
For Dublin, the new model comes at a time when Luas must manage both daily peak loads and future network expansion. That will require careful coordination between KeolisAmey, TII and the NTA as new extensions advance and as wider projects such as MetroLink reshape travel patterns into the city centre. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/news/press-releases/joint-committee-on-transport-meeting-of-the-committee-with-transport-infrastructure-ireland-on-wednesday-19-november-2025/?utm_source=openai))
Future Extensions and Network Growth Under KeolisAmey
The timing of the KeolisAmey contract coincides with a wider pipeline of Luas-related projects across the Dublin region. TII has been preparing new Luas schemes, including the long-planned Finglas extension to the Green Line and a potential Green Line extension to Bray, both of which are progressing through planning and feasibility stages. These schemes are intended to extend the reach of the existing network into growing suburbs. ([luasfinglasro.ie](https://www.luasfinglasro.ie/?utm_source=openai))
Public information from TII and the NTA indicates that the Finglas project received key statutory approvals in 2026, with construction subject to funding and subsequent tender processes. Discussion around a Bray extension places delivery within the 2031 to 2036 period of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, positioning it firmly within the timeframe of the KeolisAmey operating window if contract extensions are taken up. ([luasfinglasro.ie](https://www.luasfinglasro.ie/?utm_source=openai))
Beyond Dublin, TII and the Department of Transport are also advancing a proposed light rail line in Cork and assessing other regional schemes. While these projects would be subject to separate contracts, the performance of Luas under KeolisAmey is likely to influence how policymakers view public-private partnerships for rail operations elsewhere in Ireland. ([tii.ie](https://www.tii.ie/en/news/press-releases/joint-committee-on-transport-meeting-of-the-committee-with-transport-infrastructure-ireland-on-wednesday-19-november-2025/?utm_source=openai))
As the September 2026 handover approaches, further operational details are expected to be set out by TII, the NTA and KeolisAmey. For now, publicly available documentation suggests that the transition has been structured to keep daily services running, while opening a new chapter for Dublin’s best-known rail brand.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland – Luas O&M contract award to KeolisAmey
Keolis Group – KeolisAmey secures Luas operations and maintenance contract
RTÉ – Coverage of Transdev losing the Luas contract
EU and Irish procurement notices for Luas operations and maintenance