DART+ (DART Expansion)

I think that a Maynooth Line to Kildare Line is a must. I have heard many both on and off this forum saying it should run from Leixlip Confey to Clondalkin via Lucan but this would require almost the entire thing to be built in a tunnel and given we can’t even get an underground railway built in our capital city where it is actually desperately needed, the chances of a semi-rural and decentralised underground railway is slim at best…

A Kilcock - Hazelhatch link would be easier as it is all only greenfields land out there, but I think a connection from beyond Maynooth to Adamstown is more favourable as even though there is more buildings and used land that the railway has to be routed around, the Sligo/Mullingar/Longford etc services would still have access to Maynooth as well as providing an interchange with DART+ there also.

The only problem I can see is the need for a grade separated link with the Kildare line as the fast lines into Heuston are going to be be on the southern side. An at-grade crossing could be used however this would only potentially hinder service frequency. As the line is so short however, it could be built as a single track which would definitely make the project both cheaper and less invasive which is food for thought…

As for a stop at Celbridge, maybe the railways presence might naturally cause the town to sprawl northeastwards but as of now I think a Celbridge North/East station would be no closer and no more useful to the town than the current one and should only be built if needed as it would be an obvious hinder to frequency of Sligo services.

This would be a terrible idea - if the Sligo/Longford services are to be re-routed into Heuston, it should be beyond Maynooth, as direct access to that town is a big draw for 3rd level students. More broadly, I also think that bringing the Sligo/Longford service to Heuston would be detrimental as not only would that be further from the City Centre, DART, Northern services and Busarus today, but it would also result in Sligo/Longford passengers losing direct access to the Metro (if that ever gets built) which would otherwise have a direct interchange at Glasnevin Junction.

IMHO the money spent on such a link would be better spent adding passing places on the Maynooth line.

Such a link would also be quite beneficial for Dart stock to get to/from Hazlehatch/Heuston and the depot in Maynooth.

Depending on space available a curve could potentially be added to the link to allow a direct connection.

Hahaha a very good point…

Yes though actually, given that it’s only a 6km stretch of track, doubling it from the get go probably wouldn’t be a whole lot more expensive

(speaking of, does anyone know are they planning to build the M3 Parkway - Navan extension as double track…? And will this be DART operated or more of an intercity/commuter service?)

The capacity crunch where removing Sligo services would have the most impact is from Clonsilla in - Maynooth-Kilcock would be nowhere near as badly impacted.

The tracks are closest at Leixlip/Adamstown areas, but it would be nice to for this track to take in Celbridge

Would be great but that would require large scale demolition and land purchase or tunnelling, neither or which are necessary especially when another, much more viable route is available.

If Kilcock - Maynooth was doubled and the spur built after Maynooth, the problem would be more or less solved. The only problem I can see would be the presence of only 2 platforms in Maynooth, a third or fourth platform could be relatively easily added space wise, even 2 terminating platforms where the current station car park is, would be great for terminating DART services

I've said it before but extending DART to Kilcock gives the opportunity to rebuild the station further west and with four platforms. I'd see that as a better solution than messing around in Maynooth where space is tight and any proposal would have compromises.

The existing station is doomed - there isn't anywhere practical to put in a second platform. The platform is built on the track bed, even if it was moved back and the track re-slewed to where double track would be there'd be nowhere to put the opposite one.

I suspect a station to the west of the town, around where the original station was is the likely answer; but that isn't suitable for 4 platforms either.

The Maynooth long-term transport plan published last week has a Maynooth West P&R station around the 14th Lock on the Royal Canal. That would be more likely as a four track station. I would expect Kilcock to only get one in two or one in three DARTs anyway.

Is that going to be an active station or just a depot?

Aircoach 706 😭 mentioned on that picture

I was thinking the same thing, possibly it's a primer for Transit Oriented Development on that end of town.

Why on the western side though? CPOs have been confirmed for the ring road and new bridge over canal/rail line on the east side of the town so it will have better infrastructure.

Sorry you are correct. Then the two lines branch off there and under. Yes there will be some conflict, but nothing worse than anywhere on the network like at Cherryville and Portarlington. It will only conflict in the up direction.

This is the infrastructure section. We talk about lots of things many moons off (unfortunately) but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be discussed. This is part of relieving pressure on DART West and improving services beyond Maynooth which will an even slower service because they will be behind a DART all the way.

It’s in the strategic rail review. It’s a 4 mile line, pathetic if we can’t manage that. Of course DART + has priority but this should be following close behind.

The RO for Dart+ Coastal North has been submitted into the planning system.

Some Details here on the RTÉ website.

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2024/0712/1459537-dart-drogheda/

However there is more details about the application on IÉ's website.