[PR] Weekend DARTs are back!

Victor

http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/news_centre/general_news.asp?action=view&news_id=138

Full Weekend DARTs are back! by Press Office

There’s great news on the double for DART users – full weekend DART services are back from this weekend (Sept 24th-25th) following the conclusion of Southside DART Upgrade works; and extra capacity is now being delivered with 8-car DARTs in operation, allowing thousands more customers use the service every day.

The full DART service will again operate at weekends after the largest investment in Dublin’s rail network in over 20 years. Following the €176 million programme, platforms are now at 8-carriage length in all 30 DART stations, the overhead power lines have been renewed across the system, and improved accessibility has been delivered for mobility-impaired customers.

The DART Upgrade has completed a five-year process which will have doubled the peak capacity of the DART service, the country’s greatest public transport success story. Fleet investment has increased the number of carriages from 80 to 154 in that time, with peak services moving from 4-car to 6-car previously, and with DART Upgrade concluding, 8-car DARTs are beginning to operate to meet rising demand. Over 90,000 customers use the service every weekday, with demand forecast to increase further.

An 8-carriage DART train will be capable of carrying up to 1,300 passengers, allowing existing commuters escape gridlock and switch to DART, and catering for new residential developments planned along the route.

Iarnród Éireann thanks customers for their support and patience during the essential DART Upgrade programme which commenced in October 2003. The company also thanked Dublin Bus for the extensive alternative bus arrangements which were put in place on each phase of the works to cater for DART customers.

Rosslare Intercity and Gorey commuter services are also back to normal at weekends.



Remainder of project

Final works including completion of new station buildings at Howth Junction and Bayside, and additional sidings at Fairview to cater for the expanded DART fleet will be completed by the end of 2005, with the overall project set to be completed on time and on budget. These remaining works will not affect DART services.

Fleet expansion

In parallel with the DART Upgrade project, Iarnród Éireann is investing in the DART fleet to facilitate eight-carriage trains. The 40 carriage order worth €80 million has been delivered and are now all in service. The delivery of this order completes the doubling of the DART fleet in just five years, and has allowed Iarnród Éireann to commence the refurbishment of the original DART fleet, now 21 years old.

dmeehan

best news i have heard in a long time!