The advertisements promised that the Luas trams would start running in Dublin in 2003, but it now seems it will be 2004 before passengers can catch one.
Despite past assurances from Government ministers and an extensive advertising campaign which promised "next tram due 2003" and "after that . . . it's every five minutes", the new head of the Railway Procurement Agency, Mr Frank Allen, has indicated the project will not meet that target date.
Addressing questions relayed to him through Mr Ger Hannon, the agency's strategic planning manager, Mr Allen said that even if the Luas was constructed by the end of 2003, there would have to be a "running-in" period and the most likely date for operation of trams was in the first quarter of 2004. But if construction was delayed, the opening date would be put back beyond the first quarter of 2004, Mr Allen acknowledged.
Mr Hannon said completion dates and opening dates for the service had been seen as interchangeable, but the position was that if the system was completed by the end of 2003, it would be open to the public by the first quarter of 2004.
"We still feel that it is a bit tight and we are a bit concerned about completing the construction programme by the end of next year," he said.
However, he hoped there was "still time to make up time".
The former minister for public enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, had insisted while in office that the Tallaght line would be open to the public in 2003.
It is understood that while the contractors have given assurances the Luas system will be delivered on time, Mr Allen has doubts about this.
There is further disappointing news this week for Dublin commuters, with the revelation that Iarnród Éireann has postponed, at least until 2008, its Dublin city centre signalling project. The project was to have increased capacity between Connolly and Pearse stations from 12 to 16 trains an hour.
These setbacks to plans for Dublin's transport infrastructure come after Bus Éireann said last week that its regional and commuter services to satellite towns in the greater Dublin area are now running up to 1½ hours late in the mornings due to problems associated with traffic congestion.
Traffic congestion was also blamed by Dublin Bus last week when 18 buses on its 46A route were stuck in traffic between Leeson Street and Dawson Street in the city centre.
These difficulties in the public transport system come at a time when Dublin City Council is determined to press ahead with its plans to restrict private motor traffic in the city.
