DART+ (DART Expansion)

DART+ Programme – Summary of Project Scopes

The Scope of the DART+ Programme main Infrastructure Projects are as follows:

DART+ West

DART+ West consists of the Maynooth Line and the City Centre Enhancements. The full extent is detailed in Figure 1.

The City Centre Capacity Enhancement aspects include the remodelling of Connolly Station and the development of Spencer Dock Station. 

The Maynooth Line aspect of the DART+ Programme covers both the former Great Southern & Western Railways (GSWR) and the Midlands Great Western Railway (MGWR) lines in Dublin city. This area stretches from Connolly and Docklands stations to a location west of Maynooth on the Sligo Line and to the M3 Parkway Station near Dunboyne.

The overall scope for the DART+ West consists of:

• Electrification and re-signalling of the Maynooth/Dunboyne Line to Connolly & Docklands. 

• Interlocking renewals, signalling additional lines and facilitation of bi-directional movements.

• Infrastructural enhancement works at Connolly Station and associated approach junctions. 

• New station at Spencer Dock and modifications to the associated approach junctions.

• Permanent way modifications including around 4km of track lowering and additional stabling including Clonsilla, Maynooth, M3 Parkway as required for operations.

• 4no. Bridge reconstructions and 2no. bridge modifications arising from corridor widening and electrical clearances.

• 4 new footbridges at Ashtown, Coolmine, Porterstown, Clonsilla.

• 26no. structures requiring parapet heightening.

• Removal of the six level crossings along the Maynooth line and provision of necessary bridge/road relief infrastructure 

• Ancillary civils, drainage and low voltage power work to cater for changes.

DART+ South-West

DART+ South West is the second infrastructural project of the DART+ programme which aims to increase rail capacity on the Kildare Line from 5,000 to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction. The project involves track works, electrification and re-signalling on the Kildare line from Hazelhatch & Celbridge to Dublin Heuston and through the Phoenix Park Tunnel (PPT) to the west side of Glasnevin Junction covering a distance of circa 20km. The full extent is detailed in Figure 2. Glasnevin Junction is the key interface between DART+ West and DART+ South West projects.

The scope of DART+ South West includes the physical elements listed below:

• Widening of the railway corridor and completing four tracking between Park West Station and Dublin Heuston (6 km);

• Reconfiguration of the existing track layout

• Approx. 2km of track lowering works  

• 6 no.Bridge reconstructions & 1no. bridge modification arising from corridor widening and/or electrical clearances, as necessary;

• Retaining walls along the route to facilitate corridor widening 

• Slope stabilisation works on the GSWR line 

• Provision for acoustic barrier installation along the route where required 

• Improvements to the Phoenix Park Tunnel Line to support the projected capacity increase;

• Provide passive provision for new stations, , at Kylemore and Cabra;

• Construction of new station at Heuston West

• Interlocking renewals, signalling additional lines and facilitation of bi-directional movements;

• Renewal of operational and retail telecommunications systems;

• Electrification and power supply from Hazelhatch to Dublin Heuston and through the Phoenix Park Tunnel to support the projected capacity increase; 

• Provision of sidings near Hazelhatch; and Celbridge station

• Ancillary civils, drainage and low voltage power to cater for the changes.

DART+ Coastal

Northern Line:

• Electrification and power supply from Malahide to Drogheda [38km] to support the projected capacity increase;

• Signalling and telecommunications infrastructure to support the projected capacity increase;

• Bridge reconstructions arising from corridor widening and electrical clearances, as necessary;

• Provide efficient train turnback facilities at Drogheda, Malahide and Clongriffin Stations;

• Re-configure Howth Junction Station to facilitate shuttle working on the Howth Branch;

• Re-configure and upgrade existing depots at Drogheda and Fairview to support the needs of the railway network; and ancillary and accommodation works as necessary based on design optimisation.

• Possible upgrades of the existing electrification. 

Southern Line:

• Elimination of level crossings between the City Centre and Greystones;

• Provision of an efficient turnback at Bray;

• Bray-Greystones Capacity Enhancement; 

• Provision of rolling stock stabling, as necessary; and

• Ancillary and accommodation works as necessary based on design optimisation.

• Possible upgrades of the existing electrification.

Current Status of DART + Project

 The DART+ West preliminary design has been completed with the submission of the Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála having been lodged on 29th of July 2022 with the statutory process considered to take approximately 18 months. 

 The DART+ South West preliminary design has been completed with the submission of the Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála having been lodged on 22nd March 2023. 

 DART+ Coastal are continuing with the preliminary design development and are targeting submission of the Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála Q4 2023 for Coastal North and Q2 2024 Coastal South.

The overall scope for the DART+ West consists of:

• Addition of a new maintenance depot connected to the Maynooth Line

• New road bridge (OBG23A) and local road realignment to access the depot

• 3km track realignment from Maynooth Station to west of OBG23A

• Modification to Maynooth station to facilitate track realignment.