DART+ (DART Expansion)

Who's that?

Will Dart+ do anything to increase train throughput via the central section of track, specifically the loop line bridge? There's nothing rapid about trains crawling between Clontarf Road and GCD. How does Irish Rail manage to slow down traffic so drastically along a stretch that, by the end of this project, will have had multiple signaling/infrastructure upgrades in the preceding years while other cities across the continent manage to get trains through much busier sections of track at much greater speeds?

Sure didn’t the introduction of the 10min DART add nearly 10 minuets to the journey from Connolly to Greytones, essentially cancelling out time savings from a shorter waiting time.

As far as I'm aware (and I'm open to correction here), the improvements to through-put over the LLB happened under the City Centre Resignaling project. DART+ may help further but I think this will be more through addressing issues at other locations, "greasing the wheels" on approach.

The other cities across the continent you refer to have likely separated different types of services and don't have long distance diesel trains running across a two track bridge in the city centre which is also trying to accommodate high frequency, electric trains. DART+ obviously doesn't address this issue either. Another connection between the various lines is required, a tunnelled solution will be required eventually (and no the PPT is not an alternative).

Could we not terminate those Rosslare services at GCD? After all, if passengers from Maynooth have to use Spencer Dock.....

They won't have to use Spencer dock ...

From what I was reading half of Maynooth services will go to Spencer dock , half will go to Bray.

Similar to the Docklands when m3 parkway line opened , Irish rail had to keep saying connolly services would remain

Does anyone know a realistic timeline on Ballyfermot Dart+ SW station?

Will it happen in parallel to Dart+SW or after?

Grand Canal Dock cannot be used to terminate trains from the southside, it only works for trains approaching from the northside

There are no facilities to clean or fuel trains at Pearse or Grand Canal Dock and if you get that far there is no capacity problem continuing to Connolly

Changes are a pain, you are looking at losing 25% of potential passengers with each change, changes add time and make the service look less attractive

That the LLB has speed restrictions and it being only double track does make this believable to be honest.

We want the the LLB to be all things to all people, a reasonable frequent (>10min) metro tier service for folk coming from Maynooth and Malahide to Bray/Greystones, whilst also squishing in intercity services. Its the same issue with the arguments surrounding DU, where folk want it to be a Metro and a heavy rail inter city connection. It is very hard for it to be both on a dual track line.

If we want to retain and make competitive commuting from Wick/Wex to Dublin, there needs to be more capacity than a dual track can probably offer. (Honestly a further argument that Metrolink should've been designed with the ability to extend to Bray)

I've always felt as part of an integrated Dart and rail network, Metrolink should eventually join the Dart line around Shankill. It would open up a new corrider of passengers, east of n11 through Ballybrack, Loughlinstown, Cabinteely and onto towards Foxrock and Sandyford.

Essentially linking the whole system together. Because really through Dart+ its a stepping stone in the right direction.

Ps. Still keeping Sandyford to Fassaroe/Bray as Luas line.

Metrolink will never be able to seamlessly integrate with the existing DART network as it is a fully automated system that will likely be on a different track gauge.

The best they could do in terms of linking to the dart at Shankill/Bray would be a station interchange.

I’m guessing as their diesel traction with slower acceleration would clog up dart services, although some call at extra stations at peak times.