Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

DART+ (DART Expansion)

Options
1…342343344345346348»

Comments

  • Options
    #10412
    KrisW1001
    Registered Users Posts: 1,617 ✭✭✭KrisW1001


    For what it’s worth, I think IÉ will proceed with electrification, because it needs to be done eventually, they have the budget for it now, and there’s no guarantee that money will be available in future.

    Also, DART+ Southwest depends on the section from Glasnevin Junction to Docklands being electrified, so that work must happen or SW will also be left incomplete. (According to IÉ, there is some depot space at Inchicore, but not enough for both W and SW)



  • Options
    #10413
    Bodan
    Registered Users Posts: 457 ✭✭Bodan


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445562#Comment_122445562

    Thats interesting because there is largely nothing there in the plans

    depot.jpg



  • Options
    #10414
    oliver_murray
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭oliver_murray


    Would the Bemu's be stored in Drogheda for Dart to Drogheda meaning Clontarf depot could be used for Dart+ west and southwest in the meantime while they sort out the Maynooth Depot, or would there still not be enough space to allow for the proposed capacity upgrade for both Dart + west and southwest.



  • Options
    #10415
    Glaceon
    Registered Users Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭Glaceon


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445691#Comment_122445691

    I’d be asking whether even Drogheda goes ahead now. The reason being that if IE are stuck with just replacing the 8100s because of lack of depot space, extending the line with the same number of units would probably result in a reduction of frequency.



  • Options
    #10416
    prunudo
    Registered Users Posts: 7,438 ✭✭✭prunudo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445562#Comment_122445562

    Interesting, from the posts above I had expected it to be far more adversely effected, but as you say, maybe the flood predictions are out of date?



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #10417
    KrisW1001
    Registered Users Posts: 1,617 ✭✭✭KrisW1001


    DART+ Coastal is the least dependent on Maynooth. The Drogheda depot is being electrified, and will house some of the new trains. The rest of the additional DART+ Coastal stock will be housed at Fairview depot.



  • Options
    #10418
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,771 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445711#Comment_122445711

    The extra trains on the Northern line are going to be stabled at Drogheda Depot (and Clongriffin, Malahide, etc.), so it will have no impact on Dart+ North project.



  • Options
    #10419
    Ireland trains
    Registered Users Posts: 385 ✭✭Ireland trains


    Is the second order of dart trains enough to cover Maynooth services to their current extent.



  • Options
    #10420
    KrisW1001
    Registered Users Posts: 1,617 ✭✭✭KrisW1001


    @prunudo , @Bodan - yes, it does seem that the depot itself is well clear of the predicted flood areas. Either there’s been a newer, and far more pessimistic, forecast done, or the real issue is not the depot, but running a new rail line from Maynooth to that depot through the middle of an area that floods regularly.

    The existing line has the exact same problem, of course, but if IÉ are going to the trouble of moving the line here, it does seem a little odd to rebuild it within the same floodplain…



  • Options
    #10421
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,771 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122445823#Comment_122445823

    The forecast was actually done by IR themselves and they identified the risk of fluvial flooding on the site:

    https://www.dartplus.ie/S3mvc/media/DART-West-Railway-Order/4%20EIAR/Volume%204%20Appendices/Chapter%2003%20Alternatives/A3-4-Depot-Site-Selection-Supplementary-Report.pdf

    Screenshot 2024-07-30 at 18.21.45.png

    It goes on to say:

    The detailed flood risk assessment examined the full extent of the site of Jackson’s bridge and the proposed
    depot and confirmed that although the proposed site of the depot is higher than that at Jackson’s Bridge some
    fluvial flooding is evident along the alignment of an historic watercourse. The watercourse passed under the
    footprint of the proposed depot at one time but, does not currently as it was realigned along the southern
    extremity of the site for agricultural purposes. The detailed flood assessment determined that as water levels
    rise during flood conditions, flood waters return to their original flow path

    That isn't great.



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #10422
    ArcadiaJunction
    Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭ArcadiaJunction


    Am I reading this right? The DARTs being built in Poland can't be put into service now for years?



  • Options
    #10423
    L1011
    Registered Users Posts: 68,927 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122446077#Comment_122446077

    The ones currently being built are replacing the 8100s. They will be depoted at Fairview

    The Maynooth depot would not have come online for years even if granted today.



  • Options
    #10424
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,771 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122446088#Comment_122446088
    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122446077#Comment_122446077

    Plus extra BEMU DART's that will operate out of Drogheda ahead of full electrification.

    It is also possible that if they go head with the electrification of the Maynooth line as was approved today, they could still replace the existing DMU's on the Maynooth line with BEMU/EMU, by operating them out of the existing depots.

    The limitation here is increasing frequency and thus capacity on the Western lines beyond the levels present today.

    BTW BEMU's might be an advantage here, it could give them the flexibility to operate them out of non electrified depots and yards. They might even be able to find space to squeeze a few extra trains in to add some frequency increase ahead of a new depot being built.



  • Options
    #10425
    Pete_Cavan
    Registered Users Posts: 6,895 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    I wonder if reducing the size of the depot will help, either making the chosen location more viable or opening up other locations which were previously deemed too small. The maintenance area probably has to remain the same size but could they look to provide more space for overnight stabling elsewhere (Hazelhatch, etc.)?



  • Options
    #10426
    thomasj
    Registered Users Posts: 4,809 ✭✭✭thomasj


    RTE updated it's article

    In its decision An Bord Pleanála granted the Railway Order with a number of conditions including that the proposed depot west of Maynooth not be constructed due to concerns about flood risk.

    However Iarnród Éireann said it will explore other options for the construction of a depot.

    "We will immediately consider the requirements to progress this, to deliver the depot in line with the timelines to support the wider DART+ Programme."

    It said work to get construction underway will now commence

    "Iarnród Éireann, in collaboration with the National Transport Authority, will now progress the delivery of the DART+ West project into its construction stage.

    "This will involve procurement processes to engage contractors to undertake the construction activities on the scheme."



  • Options
    #10427
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,771 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122446651#Comment_122446651

    If you look at the depot options report, there are many other locations that are the relevant size and could do the job, they were judged not as attractive as the Maynooth option for various reasons, but still viable.

    This is part of what the inspector complained about. First, why wasn’t “is the location a flood plain” one of the criteria for the original selection process and once they discovered it was, why didn’t they instead select one of the other options.

    Part of the reason the inspector suggested excluding the depot, was that there are other depot locations they can use instead.

    I’d also point out that the original Depot locations report was relatively narrow in the locations they picked to look at, two at Drogheda, two at Maynooth and two at Hazelhatch , even though there are a couple of other potential locations that I can think of.

    So while all of this is a pain, I’m not as negative about it all as some others here. It is really good news that the rest of the project got approved and they can proceed with that part, it bodes well for the South West and Northern projects getting approval too.

    That just means IR need to take a really good look at the potential depot locations, make sure they get everything right with it and send in a new RO application for it.

    And very good news that construction will start right away on the approved parts.



  • Options
    #10428
    dublinman1990
    Registered Users Posts: 8,481 ✭✭✭dublinman1990


    I read the decision on Dart+ West on the RTÉ website earlier today. In one way; I was happy to read that most of the project got approval today by ABP and can proceed with construction with IÉ asap. However reading the news about the depot in Maynooth not going to be included in the project left me very surprised and disappointed. I actually couldn't believe that IÉ were trying to build the depot near a flood plain. Has there been any recent data to indicate that there has been significant flooding taking place on the site near Jackson's Bridge from any major storms within the past few months or even up to when the RO was submitted to ABP about 2 years ago?



  • Options
    #10429
    SeanW
    Registered Users Posts: 8,841 ✭✭✭SeanW


    Seems like an absolute cluster from Irish Rail to plan a depot on a known flood plain, messing about with diverted watercourses is always a questionable idea to say the least.

    The one immediate question I have that now comes to mind, is there enough space in existing depots that is under electric wires that a DART fleet just to do a like-for-like replacement of the existing 29000 operated service? Or are Maynooths 29000s kept somewhere like Drogheda that won't have electric overhead for some years yet?

    I also noted someone referenced the R408 overbridge as a limit of authorised works, does that mean that IE will not be allowed to put overhead lines over the siding there? (There's a siding in Maynooth that goes about 100-200m beyond that bridge?



Advertisement