The operator of Dublin’s Luas tram system said its earnings declined in 2019 because salaries at the company rose faster than the consumer price index. Newly-filed accounts for Transdev Dublin Light Rail show that revenue hit €43.5m in 2019 compared to €38.7m in 2018. But the increase was due to the inclusion of a new maintenance contract it secured towards the end of 2019. The maintenance of the Luas infrastructure had previously been undertaken by the Irish arm of French firm Alstom, which also manufactured the Luas carriages. The Dublin Luas business made a loss of almost €2.6m before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation during the year. That compared to a loss of just over €2m the previous year.