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                   The Railway Procurement Agency 
                    - the body in charge of Dublin�s Luas and pending Metro transport 
                    services - generated an after-tax surplus of �6.6 million 
                    last year. 
                  According to the body, commercial 
                    activities associated with the two functioning Luas lines 
                    in the capital delivered surpluses before tax of �6.9m - up 
                    from a total of �5.6m in 2006. 
                  In its annual report for 2007, 
                    the agency stated - 'The success of the Luas system reflects 
                    the quality of the investment decision made by Government 
                    in proceeding with Luas and the dedication and professionalism 
                    of the Railway Procurement Agency and Veolia in delivering 
                    high-quality infrastructure and transport services'. 
                  Last year, the 
                    Luas system carried 28.4 million people over its two lines 
                    - a 10% increase on 2006 passenger levels. 
                  In its report, the RPA updated 
                    on the progress it has made in regard to planning for each 
                    of its interests - including the Metro project, the Luas extension 
                    and ticketing projects - all of which have been included in 
                    the Government�s Transport 
                    21 investment programme. 
                  The route for the Metro North line 
                    has been selected and the preparation of detailed plans for 
                    which a railway order will be sought was substantially completed. 
                     
                  The railway order application was 
                    made for a 4.5km extension of the Luas red line, to run from 
                    Belgard to Saggart via Citywest.  
                  Also in 2007, substantial progress 
                    was made in constructing the 7.5km extension of the Luas Green 
                    Line to Cherrywood and the 1.5km extension of the Red Line 
                    to the Docklands area. 
                  Furthermore, a project to increase 
                    the capacity of the red line by 40%, through lengthening the 
                    trams, was substantially advanced. 
                  To download RPA's Annual Report - Click 
                    Here 
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