Dublin Tramway: multidisciplinary expertise for safety

‍The two main Luas tram lines in Dublin are the backbone of the capital's public transport network, serving 55 million passengers in 2025. The fleet consists of Citadis 401 and 502 trams, which are exceptionally long: 41 trams measuring 40 meters and 40 trams measuring 55 meters—some of the longest in Europe—operating across 42 km of track!

For 8 years, MASTERIS has been supporting Transdev Dublin Light Rail in upgrading the original maintenance plan to optimize rolling stock overhaul and upkeep. The goal is to strengthen the durability and reliability of both braking systems.

Why MASTERIS?‍

Every client has a Key account manager who coordinates every client request with their teams and the SNCF Voyageurs Matériel technical team to streamline communication between France and Ireland. MASTERIS’s industrial and engineering expertise is dedicated to serving both the operator and the Transport Authority!

Our operational teams are fully committed to supporting Transdev Dublin and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) authority in this new strategic heritage maintenance project.

MASTERIS’s multidisciplinary approach provides clients with:

• A customized industrial overhaul
• On-site team support
• Precision engineering backed by the expertise of SNCF Voyageurs Matériel

Multiple projects upgrading the tram line while optimizing costs

Custom industrial overhaul 

• Mid-life reliability upgrades for the braking systems of Citadis 401 trainsets at the SNCF Industrial Technicentre in Rennes to increase operational availability and reliability, including the provision of industrial tools and capacity for industrial brake refurbishment;
• Overhaul of ARC 812 circuit breakers, which specifically detect dangerous electrical arcs, with support from the SNCF Industrial Technicentre in Romilly. ‍

‍Mobilizing MASTERIS experts in Dublin‍

• Hands-on support for project monitoring throughout the 3.5-year production period;
• Collaboration between MASTERIS teams, Dublin teams, and SNCF Voyageurs teams to adapt the maintenance fleet and optimize the overhaul schedule;
• Door condition verification and maintenance plan adjustments in 2023 with on-site support from MASTERIS teams;
• On-site structural expertise for damaged trainsets, analyzing options to optimize maintenance costs and specific customer benefits.

‍Precision engineering backed by the expertise of SNCF Voyageurs Matériel

• Obsolescence management for hydraulic power unit motors, eliminating the need for intermediate maintenance every 120,000 km and delivering real savings for the client;
• Design engineering for the integration of a new brushless motor and improving brake pad guidance;
• Restarting backup power plants by reverse-engineering out-of-stock parts, allowing 100% of the fleet to remain operational and preventing the shutdown of 3 trainsets.

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"This is a great example of how our teams adapt to technical complexities, both internationally and over the long term, for 8 years. During its operating period, Transdev Dublin Light Rail did not reduce its service during overhaul phases and even offered a continuously increasing service with high-performance equipment that will last for many years (at least 20 years)." - Arnaud VAQUIÉ, Director of the Regional & Urban Mobility Public Service Delegation Commercial Department

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☘️ The challenge continues in Ireland : MASTERIS aims to build on the work accomplished in Ireland by applying its industrial expertise to sustainable mobility projects.

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Image credits: © Keolis