Damaged Luas Tram Returns to Service After €5 Million Repair in France

A Luas tram, service number 5037, which was severely damaged during the Dublin riots in November 2023, has returned to Ireland after undergoing extensive repairs in France. The tram was spotted at Rosslare Europort on Monday, making its way back to Dublin.

The Incident and Damage

On November 23rd, 2023, Luas tram 5037 was targeted during rioting in Dublin city centre. Rioters shattered the tram’s windows and set fire to the interior after bringing a burning bin onboard according to the Irish Times. The incident caused severe damage to the tram’s interior, seating, and wiring.

Repair Process and Costs

The damage to tram 5037 amounted to approximately €5 million. Following an assessment by Transdev’s engineering team in November 2024, the tram was split into two parts and transported to France for repairs the Irish Times reported. The repairs were carried out by Safra, a French company specializing in passenger transport repairs, which has previously worked on other Luas trams.

Transdev’s 2024 financial accounts indicated the tram was “scheduled to be back in service at the beginning of 2026” . A Citadis Luas tram typically costs around €5 million, as indicated by procurement documentation from 2017. Seven recent trams purchased from Alstom for the Green Line extension cost €36 million.

Legal Consequences

Evan Moore, a 20-year-old man, was jailed for three years in October 2025 for admitting to rioting and setting fire to the Luas tram as reported by the BBC. Moore broke the tram’s windows and ignited a burning bin inside.

Transdev Contract and Future Operations

The Irish Times has reported that Transdev has lost the €1.75 billion contract to operate the Luas tram service after 22 years. A joint venture between Amey and Keolis has been selected as the preferred bidder and is expected to take over operations later this year .

Transdev has not yet commented on the cost of the repairs or the exact timeline for tram 5037’s return to service.