Proposals to extend DART to Dunboyne unveiled

Proposals for the extension of the DART line to the M3 Parkway have been unveiled by Iarnrod Eireann.

Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority, today launched the first phase of public consultation for DART+ West which will see the DART extended to both M3 Parkway and Maynooth.

Plans for DART+ West, which will treble capacity of the rail system from Maynooth/M3 Parkway to Dublin city centre can be reviewed at www.irishrail.ie/DARTMaynooth, as public consultation begins.

Cllr Damien O'Reilly said it was great news for Meath commuters and encouraged all commuters to provide feedback on the proposals.

”Construction is expected to begin in early 2022 and with completion expected in 2024,” he said.

DART+ West is the first phase of DART+ Programme, a transformative programme of investment which will provide a sustainable, electrified, reliable, frequent rail service significantly increasing capacity on all the rail corridors serving the Greater Dublin Area, through investment in infrastructure and a fleet of new trains.

The first phase of public consultation is designed to present the emerging preferred option for provision of DART+ West to communities and stakeholders along the route.

The feedback will assist in further progressing the design process prior to another public consultation later this year, with the railway order (planning application) process due to take place mid-2021. Construction is expected to commence in early 2022 with completion expected in late 2024.

The project will involve the purchase of additional trains to support new and enhanced DART service, upgrading and reconfiguring existing railway infrastructure in the city centre and the elimination of a number of level crossings to reduce rail/road conflict that limits train capacity.

It will include civil and bridge works to accommodate electrification, corridor widenings and increased service levels as well as upgrades to signalling and communications infrastructure to improve safety and support increased frequency and reliability.

DART+ will increase passenger capacity and train service frequency, allow more people to make sustainable travel choices and will contribute to a reduction in emissions within Dublin while providing a reliable alternative to private cars.

Once complete DART+ West will enable an increase in capacity of services from seven to 15 per hour, subject to demand, increasing the current passenger capacity of 4,500 per hour to 13,750 per hour.