Railway Order Granted for DART+ South West Electrification Project
An Bord Pleanála has approved the Railway Order for the DART+ South West project. This will extend the electrified DART network from Hazelhatch & Celbridge to Heuston Station to South Dublin via the Phoenix Park Tunnel. The application was submitted in May 2023.
Key features of the project include:
Electrification and Re-signalling: 20 km of the Hazelhatch & Celbridge line to Heuston and South Dublin.
New Station: Construction of Heuston West station to serve Clancy Quay and Islandbridge.
Four-Tracking: Addition of two extra tracks between Park West & Cherry Orchard and Heuston Station — a process allowing express trains and commuter services to run simultaneously without delays.
Phoenix Park Tunnel Upgrade: Infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity through the tunnel.
Increased Capacity: Passenger capacity expected to rise from 5,000 to 20,000 per hour per direction.
New Electric Trains: Deployment of electric DART carriages as part of the DART+ Programme.
The DART+ Programme, delivered by Iarnród Éireann on behalf of the National Transport Authority, is a key element of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy for 2022–2042.
The next steps involve beginning the procurement process for construction contracts. Construction is expected to start in 2026, subject to the allocation of funding.
Jim Meade, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, stated, “Today is a great day for the communities of North Kildare and South Dublin. The provision of DART services will transform commuting for the existing and new communities along this railway corridor.”
He added, “It will make travelling with us more sustainable, more frequent and more reliable. The DART+ programme, when delivered, will truly revolutionise commuting in the Greater Dublin Area and assist in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets by reducing reliance on the private car and providing sustainable high-frequency, high-capacity transport.”
You can find more information on the DART+ South West project including a map of the new route on the DART+ website.