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THE DART LINE will be expanded to Drogheda within the next three years under plans approved by Government today.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan received cabinet sign-off today for the DART+ Coastal North rail project to enter the planning system, adding 37km of rail from Malahide to Drogheda in Co. Louth.
The move will double passenger capacity between Malahide and Drogheda from approximately 4,800 people travelling at peak hour to 8,800 and will mean that commuters from Clongriffin, Donabate, Balbriggan and Skerries will benefit from fast, high-frequency and fully electric Dart trains.
The planning approval for the project is expected to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála by July and is estimated to be completed by 2026.
Ahead of this, 65 new battery-electric Dart carriages are to be rolled out between Dublin and Drogheda in a move that is set to boost rail services.
The plans approved today come as part of the Dart+ programme which aims to almost treble the Dart rail network from 53km to 150km.
Under it, the Dart will be extended to Drogheda to the north, Maynooth and M3 Parkway to the west, and Hazelhatchand Celbridge to the south-west.
A spokesperson for the Government said a planning decision on the expansion to Maynooth and M3 Parkway is expected in the coming months.
I feel an election is coming…
@Terry Molloy: And an electrician or 2, also!
@Terry Molloy: unfortunately it is not the appropriate kind of election, only locals. Ireland is on a slippery slope for democracy with fine gael in charge since 2011 – a disgrace of parish pump, expertly incompetent peopel
@Terry Molloy: had to read that twice, thank god you said election.
Still can’t organise a train to the airport
@Lilly Lalogue: or rural buses. We have one bus from .balbriggan through oldtown garristown to Ashbourne it runs every 3 hours same direction and turns around goes back again .
Three years? I think not.
@John Fagan: probably meant 2036, if at all
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: oh and don’t forget over budget
@CP: That’s a given
@John Fagan: Slight difference, the tracks are in place and electrifying them is the only part needed. With an Airport line, they have to find a route and build it, a lot more complicated and time consuming.
But hey go for the cheap pop!
Airport
Rush hour Darts already crammed a few stops after Malahide. Will people be able to get on the dart to town at all if carriages are already full after a few stops from further afield. More frequent darts needed during morning and evening rush hour.
@Rebecca Owens: they’ll be every 10 minutes, same as the current Dart frequency. Relax, everything will be grand.
Not surprised it will take to 2026. If they were smart it could have been done years ago
@sean o’farrell: It took years to plan and source the suppliers etc and the money required as well as all the changes to the network as well as the new train sets takes time. This is years in planning!
Good news for commuters, and people still not happy
This has been in the works for years now. It’s as if an election is coming up so we hear about it again, and of course the old Airport Metro will be wheeled out again soon.
Plan shelved March 1st 2025 due to unforseen circumstances. Keep driving your cars.
I doubt they will be able to get the diesel charging infrastructure in place in that short amount of time.
Whers the metro i live in swords 20 24 still have a stage coach im!!! waiting for the elections no of the main parties will get my vote and im not alone will run them down my driveway
All very well but what about Dublin Maynooth line development
@James Murphy: Dart + all the same package but love the “What about me” !
City status now.
Terrible for Baldoyle, Sutton Howth. At least they could give us a fast shuttle train to howth junction and get rid of level crossings which still exist this day and age.
The only downside is that Malahide is now vulnerable to scanner invasions from both sides!
@Paul: set the hounds on them!
Hows that latest bit of spin about the DART extension shaping up now, forgive me but I’ll believe it when I see it. Previously inept blueshirts our way are backing people like Maria walsh and Regina whatsit neither of whom have any right to be running really while in my constituency the lie of recreational facilities and swimming pools was pushed to get FG elected for the best part of 25 years. So for now I’ll assume this is more spin
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Irish Rail plans have been worked on for years!
2096 more like
Also bring the Dart line from Clongriffin train station to the airport, Clongriffin has a lot of space for another platform or two going to the airport and back, passengers could get off there to go to the city centre or to Dundalk and the northern train could stop for people going to Belfast.
Clongriffin could be a good transport hub.
@AA Mooney: Where would the line go? who owns the land and what would it take to get done. It is not like drawing a line on a map!
have your say