Luas light rail extension in Dublin protected from flooding 

Extension of light rail line in Dublin, Ireland uses rainwater management to keep traffic moving.

The Challenge

With climate change, cities face new challenges, like sudden and unpredictable flooding. And with infrastructure of all kinds, cities want to ensure that everything runs even when it pours.  

When the Luas light rail system’s green line in Dublin, Ireland was up for extension, planners realised that stormwater attenuation and surface drainage would be a major consideration. Constructing specially designed water tanks underneath the tracks plays a crucial role in managing stormwater and surface drainage effectively.   

The Solution

Relying on water tank solutions from ViaCon UK, the attenuation project got underway. The first and largest 430 m2 tank was delivered in three weeks and installed in just four days – commissioned in a third of the time of required for concrete with less storage space and no need for heavy lifting gear or specialist equipment to install.

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Technical specifications 

  • Several water tanks, total volume over 900 m3 with the main 5 tanks of the following diameters: 2400 / 2100 and 1200 
  • Galvanised steel 
  • Designed to take rail and LM3 loading 

The ViaCon Advantage

Implementing water tanks as a stormwater attentuation and drainage solution, a number of benefits were achieved:  

  • Cost effectiveness, especially compared to concrete, in terms of construction, installation and maintenance  
  • Speed: With an end-to-end four-week delivery, the solution was complete before construction with alternative materials would have begun 
  • Designed from steel for durability 
  • Safety and accessibility: Tanks beneath the track are specially designed with an extended manifold and access shafts at each end for easy in-tank monitoring and maintenance