Dublin - Metrolink (Swords to Charlemont only)

Platform screen doors. Most modern built stations/metro systems get them and they have even started putting them on older stations too. Yes, they are mostly for saftey.

Helps stop people falling on the tracks and can also help if a fire breaks out in a tunnel, it stops a train from driving the fire into the stations, there has been some awful tragedies in the past due to this.

Metrolink is going to be a fully automated, driverless system, so if they have screen doors, they don't have to worry about looking out for people falling on the track.

And this staff member actually controls the opening and closing the doors and making sure people are clear of the platform, it is their main job and the reason they are on the train. Metrolink won't have any regular staff on board like this (obviously security/ticket checkers from time to time), thus the platform doors.

As an interesting aside, the DLR has had two crashes, both times a staff member was manually controlling the train.

BTW Some of the newer London Underground stations on the newer lines like Jubilee and the new Elizabeth line have platform screen doors, despite having a driver. Interestingly the stated reason in London isn't passenger safety, though it is a nice side benefit, the reason they installed them was to stop dirt and rubbish from the platforms from getting on the line! It turns out with these in place, they don't have to clean the lines nearly as often, which improves reliability and reduces staff costs.

Yes, it will be a fully automated system, no staff on board, there are many such systems, Copenhagen is the most obvious one, which Metrolink is modelled after. They are all over France, Germany, etc. They have been operating for years now.

It is called GoA4, Grade of Automation 4, there is a list of them here:

one of the main points of these types of systems is to greatly reduce staffing needs. There would be no point taking the driver out, only to replace them with a service agent! Specially when public transport is struggling with staffing issues. A major advantage of this system is how few staff it needs.

BTW most of the Metro stations in Copenhagen are also unstaffed. Also there is no drivers cab up front, passengers can literally sit where a driver would and get a great view.

BBTW The funny thing is, if you have been to Heathrow airport and transferred between terminals, then you have been on one without probably even realising it.

Luas usually operates at a profit, so I don't see why not.

Having said that, operating cost wouldn't necessarily be the mean goal. As mentioned above, it is integral to the design (high frequency) and keeping the construction cost low. The point with staff, is more just how hard it is find staff and this helps with that.

Also it allows you to run at a higher off peak and weekend frequency then you might otherwise be able to afford with a staffed system and possibility of all night running too (Copenhagen has that).

Yep the front of the train looks like this:

Stickers they have now, super cute:

With it serving the airport and the nature of the very early flights that leave the airport and as a result the staff who need to get there even earlier, I'd hope it would.