DART+ (DART Expansion)

The DLR site seems to imply planning was granded.

If the loads of gravel are present on either side of the station. Does it give us a clue as to when this work on the new station will start at Woodbrook? Would it right to say that it could take place either before or after Christmas or something unless they are going to be built as separate projects.

The oral hearing for DART+ West is underway from today and should last at least 2 more weeks. Nothing earth shattering on the first day, only issues are some belly aching from politicians. Katherine Murphy was particularly obstructive, in favour of the project but blithering on about a patch of green space being used for a temporary construction compound. As if it could be built by magic over night. Some nobody councilors whinging into their cornflakes over construction noise and traffic, despite the extensive traffic modelling carried out and printed in black and white on front of them.

Its not available on line, in person only

Can we buy a few of their houses and create an interchange with Connolly?

I know, was tongue in cheek in response to their complaints.

These hearings are rather dry procedural events, normally last 3-5 days. First day is usually quite funny as no one in the room has ever been to one (hasn't been a railway works order oral hearing in +10 years) so working out how it works procedurally is fun.

The only entertainment is typically a local politician who goes off on a rant and makes themselves look foolish.

Is it available to view online?

In person only

They will be based at Fairview initially

Its 37 trains, 6 of which do not have a battery fitted so those won't be going to Drogheda until 2030+?

Good chance the first batch will never get to Drogheda as the original DART fleet is falling apart (rust, breakdowns etc) and the order was sized to replace them 1:1

Good timetabling would help, but I struggle to see that working in reality. Do any stations have more than 4 platforms / lines? Perhaps some stations between PortLaoise and HH would need a 3rd (or 3rd and 4th) passing loop. Of course there are no plans for passing loops west of HH so it doesn't answer your question.

You’re talking about one train per hour off-peak here, with another to Newbridge or potentially Kildare.

That’s perfectly manageable to fit in with an hourly path to Cork, Galway and Waterford.

In the peaks, some of the Limerick, Galway and Waterford line Intercity services double up as commuters so again they will cope with that too.

The timetable will presumably be recast to deal with the revised service patterns.

Not DART+ itself but Kishoge Station has been brought up here before so thought I'd put this here. SDCC have a consultation running to add bus lanes and cycle lanes to R136 Grange Castle Road out side the eventually to open Kishoge Station. Presumably this is to facilitate interchange between rail and bus once the station finally opens.

While it is good intentioned the the bus + cycle lanes, adding a heap of parking spaces to the side of the road is a complete waste of space. There is a large car park there already plus lots of space to expand it if desired. The extra space should be used to plant schrubs and trees to remove the motorway feel from that road. They also want to add a forest of bollards to prevent cars parking where they shouldn't! I'd also have bi-directional cycle lanes on each side of the road to facilitate cycling to and from the station.

The R136 is not a motorway, full stop.

When Kishogue station opens there will have to be a pedestrian crossing installed at the station.

Our tendering process isn't based on giving the job to a party donor or a chap you were at Eton with... the UK has become a very corrupt country in the last decade or so, while we have largely cleaned up our act.