Peak period capacity and frequency to double
The DART is coming to Drogheda and locally born Colm Reynolds, who now lives in Donore, is the Programme Director overseeing the entire operation which will double train frequency and passenger capacity at peak times.
Details of the programme, it’s called DART+ Coastal North, were revealed this morning at Drogheda Railway Station when Iarnród Éireann Chairman Frank Allen and CEO Jim Meade launched a public consultation for the DART+ Coastal North project.
DART+ Coastal North will extend the DART from Malahide to Drogheda and will allow a doubling in the number of trains during the three hour peak period from 11 to 24 and capacity for commuters from 12500 – 26600. Travel time will be 50 minutes.
This is of course a major engineering task that will involve extra platform for Drogheda Station and extra garaging facilities for trains but the extra capacity it will provide will hopefully result in more people opting for public transport thus helping to alleviate road congestion and supporting the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient society.
Most of the talk this morning was about extra services for people commuting from Drogheda to Dublin but the extension of the DART to Drogheda will also be another big attraction for new companies seeking to establish in the Drogheda area.
Welcoming today’s launch, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD said: “… If we provide high quality, sustainable public transport, we know people will use it and this consultation marks an important step in delivering this infrastructure and improving our rail network in Dublin.”
Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade said: “..DART+ Coastal North is the next step in building a more sustainable transport network and will be the first of our routes on which the battery/electric hybrid carriages from the new DART+ Fleet will be utilised when they come into service in 2025.
“Feedback is important to us and will be central to the ongoing design process. I encourage communities along the DART+ Coastal North route to engage with the consultation process and have your say in shaping the revolutionary DART+ Programme.”
Pictured at this morning’s public consultation launch fpr the DART+ Programme are (from left): Sean Drew Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Iarnród Éireann CEO Jim Meade, Mayor of Drogheda James Byrne, Mayor of Fingal Seana O’Rodaigh and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Frank Allen. Photo: Andy Spearman.
Mayor of Drogheda James Byrne told Drogheda Life that he was delighted to be at the launch of the first public consultation stage of the DART+ Coastal North project at MacBride station this morning.
“I was joined by Cathaoirleach of Meath Country Council Cllr Sean Drew and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seana O’Rodaigh and we were briefed by Iarnrod Eireann officials on the project on what is a significant milestone in the modernisation of rail transport in the region.
“It is hoped that the project will be completed by 2028, with a Railway Order to An Bord Pleanala seeking planning permission for the works expected to be submitted early in 2023.
“This will result in increased rail capacity between Dublin and Drogheda which will be achieved by increasing frequency along the route as well as using higher capacity trains… It will improve journey time reliability and reduce journey times by around 10%. This will hopefully encourage people to move from private car use alleviating road congestion.
“As the full electrification of the Northern Line is being developed Iarnrod Eireann is planning to purchase so-called Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs) which will allow the possibility of running enhanced services on the network by 2025 with orders to be placed for these trains later this year.
It’s really important that potential users of the improved network or those that may be affected by its development have their say while the design process is active. Local knowledge is vitally important.
Feedback at this initial stage of public consultation can be submitted between now and April 8 through the project website www.dartplus.ie , by email to dartcoastalnorth@irishrail.ie , by phone on (01) 233 4515 and in writing to Community Liaison Officer, DART+ Coastal North, Iarnrod Eireann, Inchicore Parade, Dublin 8, D08K6Y3.
A series of public webinars is planned which are expected to commence in early March.
