Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
OVER THE PAST several months, Fora has taken a look at some of the more notable big-ticket projects that were planned during the Celtic Tiger period – or in the aftermath of its demise.
Most recently, we detailed the story behind the intended construction of a massive shopping complex in the heart of Limerick.
A large chunk of the city centre has lain idle for years after the recession grounded plans to build a retail mecca.
However, since then the site has been taken over by the council which recently unveiled plans to develop the area.
In this installment, we’re going back to Dublin. We previously looked at the many delays to the proposed Metro North, so it seems only right that we take a look at what is meant to be its sister project: the Dart Underground.
What is it?
The Dart Underground is a proposed railway line that would run under the heart of Dublin city centre and would link all rail, Dart and Luas services in the capital.
The 7.6km line would connect the northern track to Heuston Station and from there to the Kildare rail lines.
It has been envisaged that the line will go under Spencer Dock and through the city with stops at Pearse Station, St Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston, as well as a ground-level station at Inchicore.
The intent was that this would free up trains to go through Connolly Station and would link Dublin’s main rail lines.
The projected cost of the Dart expansion project was €4 billion, €3 billion of which was dedicated to the underground project. It was expected to take about six years to build.
It was hoped that the Dart Underground would have extended the passenger capacity of Dublin’s commuter rail services to 100 million journeys yearly, from 33 million in 2010.
When was it first suggested?
The idea to build some form of underground rail line to connect the main stations in Dublin city centre has been seriously considered since the 70s.
The Dublin Rapid Rail Transportation Study, published by the CIÉ Group in 1975, recommended building a tunnel to link Connolly and Heuston stations.
What happened?
With the onset of the 80s recession, the 1975 report wasn’t acted on. However, in 2001 a transport strategy was published for the greater Dublin area which again recommended linking Connolly and Heuston.
After this, Irish Rail started seriously looking at the project. It first carried out a feasibility study between July 2002 to June 2003.
Then, from November 2006 to May 2008, it worked on a preliminary design for the project to develop the tunnel, railway system and stations.
In 2011, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the Dart Underground, however by this stage Ireland was mired in the depths of the recession, and the project was put on hold.
What’s the latest?
When the economy started to pick back up, it looked like the Dart Underground could again be on track.
In May 2015, Irish Rail started issuing letters to 5,000 home and business owners about acquiring the land needed for the project under compulsory purchase orders.
However, the next year the project was put on ice again. Then transport minister Paschal Donohoe said that the project would not proceed “as currently designed”.
The state started looking for a “lower-cost technical solution” for the initiative.
Last year Transport Minister Shane Ross said that plans for the Dart Underground are still “alive” and added that it is “being designed and will certainly be eligible for EU funds”.
Plans for the Dart Underground were also included in the recently published National Transport Authority plan for the greater Dublin area for 2016-2035.
In October last year, the Irish Independent reported that transport officials were considering scaling down the project through various means, such as by having part of the line run overground instead.
Irish Rail has provisionally mentioned starting some form of construction work by 2020, however, as with the Metro North, the Dart Underground has been talked about for years with very little progress to show for it.
Don’t be completely surprised to see a re-hash of this article in 2027.
Written by Paul O’Donoghue and posted on Fora.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Helen mc enree & a very sensible positive idea in the same sentence? Is it April 1sr already?
@Mary Linton: You would think if a pilot kept on crashing planes, they’d be sacked, but the same ineptitude is fine in politics, apparently!
@Mary Linton: I know right? I thought DOGE were cutting all this.
@Louis Jacob: Apologies, lost me there….. isn’t DOGE an American financial accountability department?
@Mary Linton: you’re a bore
Seems reasonable.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you obviously don’t havw school going children . These children need massive supports some are non verbal some very verbal so putting in a student. Teacher is like letting a trainee electrician loose to rewire a hole house . No experience .
@Karen Marten: if alternative is no teacher, then put the kids first. Cop on.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you have no cop on how would you .
@Karen Marten: are u a parent. I doubt it you know nothing.
@Karen Marten: I don’t think theyre asking the trainee teachers to run the school either. The point is to train teachers withing the special school setting. Can’t see any issue with this.
@Mindful Muinteoir: When I taught deaf and special needs children trainee teachers would spend time in the classroom with us. This showed them how we sometimes have to adapt our teaching to include all children equally. It also gave them an insight into what being a SEN teacher requires should they wish to go down that path.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: So you don’t believe that children with special needs deserve to have teachers who are specifically trained to teach these children and to meet their needs? Shameful!!
@Mindful Muinteoir: Wow, how about they get primary school teachers to start lecturing in third level institutions? And don’t tell me that’s not the same thing, it is.
@Ann Reddin: Steady up. It’s placement as part of their studies and they would be supervised by qualified teachers at all times. Experience is the best way to learn anything. This is a positive step
Anything Master minded by this silly woman, is bound to be a disaster!
@Brian Hunt: Play the ball Brian.
It’s a great idea.
They’re already doing it so makes sense.
Any measure that will address the early intervention for those with Special Needs in schools must be welcomed
Great idea, but unions won’t allow it as they’ll put teachers first as usual.
@Allo Allo: unfair.
@Allo Allo: you obviously did’nt bother to read the article. The INTO came up with this idea first, you gobdaw.
‘Something something… teachers bad’ and so on
@Allo Allo: how is it a great idea these trainee teachers can barely teach mainstream kids my child is in 6th class a crucial year a a newly grad teacher was put to them be more suited with junior or senior infants. So how is it a good idea to do the same with special need kids. No no plenty of years of experience is needed for that type of teaching
And where are these people being forced into these positions going to live?
Pay them properly so they decide to stay in Ireland and after turning the masters in education into a cash cow students spend €10000 to qualify
I agree with this. I only said something similar a few weeks ago. Main stream teachers just think 1 way and that’s all kids are the same when that’s not the case. I’ve seen it so many times and it’s annoying.
@darren guthrie: absolute nonsense statement
have your say