DART+ (DART Expansion)

Is nearly 2.5 years from consultation to a railway order not very slow?

It is being looked at as part of the Heuston Masterplan. As is pedestrian & cycling access across the existing railway bridge and access from St. John's Road.

I take it that in terms of the 5 new stations encompassing the DART+ Project, Heuston West is to be provided as part of SW, Spencer Dock and Glasnevin as part of W and then Ballyfermot/Kylemore and Cabra as separate projects…?
Upgrades to Connolly seem to be going under the radar too but makes a lot of sense to have a Preston Street entrance further up Amiens Street - almost a separate DART/Suburban platforms entrance.
I’m most excited about Spencer Dock - a huge upgrade from the current Docklands station with a direct Luas connection right outside AND provision for DART Underground being considered… is this finally a sign of joined up thinking and infrastructure futureproofing from the NTA…??

I presume though they can just dive the centre two tracks to keep going beyond the station…? Although they mightn’t be able to get deep enough to clear the bottom of the Liffey in the 200 metres between the station and the river… Still it wouldn’t be too hard to just sink the middle two tracks by a few metres on the approach and just have them lower in the station before continuing into the tunnel. I’m sure either way it’s an easy enough fix when they eventually get around to DART Underground. And I think yes, a few new bridges, pedestrian and road based, would definitely do very well there.

Shame about the bus stop being taken away outside Preston Street but I presume it can be added back in if needs be when the time comes…? Would be a very handy addition

Unfortunately it's not an easy fix at all. The conflict was well flagged in option selection reports. The "simple" fix is to "temporarily" relocate the station back to its current location and dig the station and approach tracks deeper.

The proposed platform levels are 5m below ground, but the Luas Station has a substation also 5m below ground. To clear the substation, the tracks would need to start descending several 100metres further north, as was planned when DU was envisioned.

Just to be fair to others on this point (it's been debated a number of times), there are solutions to this issue.

Temporarily relocating the station, to dig down deeper, is indeed an option. I struggle to see that happening given the level of disruption it would create, though others disagree and believe it would be worthwhile in the long run.

There is also plenty of space nearby in the large Irish Rail railyards in East wall. Or perhaps a tunnel could simply continue further north and join the Northern line in Clontarf Golf Club for example (which is being considered for redevelopment).

I'm keen to find out if ABP will mention it when they issue a decision on Dart+ West. Any day now..... 😬🙈

Is such a question in ABP's remit? I doubt it is

Nothing I've heard for a long time. My worry would be, that without a plan for future DU or equivalent, that site will be developed on and wasted as an option.

There was talk in February of a decision imminent on Dart+West, which obviously hasn't happened. I do wonder if Spencer Dock and DU conflict is a part of that delay, but it could be any number of things....