Sandyford Luas stop

Sandyford (Irish: Áth an Ghainimh) is a stop on the Luas light rail tram system in Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown, south of Dublin, Ireland which serves the nearby suburb of Sandyford. It opened in 2004[1] as the southern terminus of the Green Line, which re-uses the alignment of the Harcourt Street railway line which closed in 1958. Sandyford Luas stop is located on the same sight as a station on the old line called Stillorgan.

Sandyford Áth an Ghainimh
The platform sign at Sandyford
Location	Dublin Ireland
Owned by	Transdev
Operated by	Luas
Line(s)	Green
Platforms	3
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Other information
Fare zone	Green 3/4
Key dates
10 July 1854	Station opened (as Stillorgan)
31 December 1958	Station closed
30 June 2004	Luas stop opened (as Sandyford)
Services
Preceding station   Luas   Following station Stillorgan towards Broombridge   Green Line   Central Park towards Brides Glen Disused railways Dundrum towards Harcourt Street   Dublin and South Eastern Railway Dublin-Bray   Foxrock towards Bray

History

Railway station (1854-1958)

The Harcourt Street railway line was built by the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway and opened in 1854, running from a temporary terminus at Harcourt Road near the city centre to Bray. Stillorgan was originally one of four intermediate stops on the line. The station was located on Brewery road, which the line crossed on a bridge. There was a station building on the down platform (for trains towards Bray), and a small waiting room on the up platform. Passenger access between the platforms was via an iron footbridge. There was also a signal box a short distance up the line.[2]

Closure (1959-2004)

The old station building

The Harcourt Street line had declined in use throughout the early 20th centaury and was closed by CIÉ at the end of 1958. The tracks were lifted soon after and all stations on the route were auctioned off. Stillorgan station building became a private residence. The platforms and bridges were later demolished and the signal box fell into disuse.[3]

Luas (2004-present)

Construction of the first phase of the Luas system commenced in 2001 and concluded in 2004. The route chosen for the Green Line re-used the old Harcourt Street alignment between Charlemont and Stillorgan. The terminus stop which was built on the site of the old Stillorgan is called Sandyford (a separate stop called Stillorgan was built around 500m up the line). The stop was built with two side platforms and a crossover to allow trams to turn back. The depot for the Green Line was built immediately beyond the stop.

In 2010, the Green Line was extended south to Brides Glen. After Sandyford, the line diverges from the old Harcourt Street route in order to serve some more populous areas on the Ballyogan Road, and re-joins it just before Carrickmines. A third platform was built at Sandyford.

In 2018, the platforms were lengthened from 45 to 55 metres, and the depot was significantly upgraded. This was to accommodate the new longer trams introduced to boost capacity.[4]

The stop today

Sandyford stop has ticket machines, shelters, displays, and signage of the same design as other Luas stops. One platform is bound by a steel railing, the other by a sandstone wall. The old signal box can still be seen just to the north of the stop.

Sandyford is one of very few Luas stops with three platforms. On the side adjacent to Stillorgan reservoir, there is an edge platform used for trams coming from the north and continuing to Brides Glen. There is an island platform for trams travelling northwards. The track nearest to the road is for trams which have come from Brides Glen, and the middle track is for terminating trams. The main entrance is a series of steps and ramps which lead from a plaza at the side of the adjacent Blackthorn Avenue to passenger crossings across the tracks. In addition, a pathway leads from the side platform, past the depot, to Brewery Road, adjacent to the old station building, which remains a private residence.

The stop has a Park and Ride facility with 47 spaces, of which 4 are for disabled badge holders and 2 allow for the charging of electric vehicles. In addition, the car park at Stillorgan stop has 341 spaces, some of which are physically closer to the platforms at Sandyford. The car park has entrances to both stops.[5]

Service

Northboud trams run every 5-10 minutes and either terminate at Parnell or continue to Broombridge. Of the southbound trams which arrive at Sandyford, around half terminate there, with the rest continuing south to Brides Glen. The stop is also served by Dublin Bus routes 11, 47, 114, 116, and an independent bus operator called Finnegan Coaches.[6]

Gallery

• 
  A tram waits to depart at Sandyford
• 
  Looking south from the platforms into the depot.
• 
  The depot, with the station building on the right. The pathway leads to the platforms.
• 
  Looking north from the stop in 2006.
• 
  Also in 2006. The platform at which the tram is seen was then an edge platform integrated with the street; it has since become one side of an island platform. The old signal box can also be seen.

References

1. "Luas Is Launched". RTÉ Archives.
2. "Station, Stillorgan, Co Dublin". National Library of Ireland.
3. "Stillorgan". Eiretrains.
4. "Luas Green Line Capacity Enhancement". National Transport Authority.
5. "Stillorgan". Luas.
6. "Sandyford". Luas.