End of an era? Dublin City Council support automation of the Luas

When Luas drivers took industrial action following pay disputes in recent months, thousands of disgruntled commuters suggested that the city would be better served by automated trams.

And it looks like Dublin City Council may be on the same page as this section of the public.

According to The Independent, 'Luas Automated'  – a proposal put forth by Fine Gael councillor Dr. Paddy Smyth – was passed at the Council's Transport Committee meeting earlier today.

It has been established that the committee then called on the new Minister for Transport, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and TransDev to ascertain whether new Luas trams would be in a position to facilitate self-driving software.

Outlining the motivation for the proposal, Dr. Smyth said: "Given the cost to the city caused by this strike in recent months, I feel it is my obligation, as a representative of those who were disproportionately affected, to point out that should the drivers choose to return to the pickets, we must look at all options of returning a functioning tram service in this city."

In spite of this possible future development, Dr. Smyth insists that current drivers will not be replaced by machines, saying: "The passing of the motion does not mean any drivers will be fired from their job and replaced by an automation."

"This (Luas trams) is a very expensive piece of kit to be lying idle during 12 days of industrial action," he argued.

"It is not a proposal with which SIPTU can use to flex it's muscles in the opening act of post austerity industrial relations," he added.