Project Specific FAQs

DART+ Coastal North is seeking to increase the frequency and capacity of train services between Drogheda and Dublin City Centre, inclusive of the Howth Branch Line. This can be achieved by introducing electrified, high-capacity DART trains and increasing the frequency of these trains. Delivery of this project will support the existing communities along the railway and support future sustainable development. DART+ Coastal North will serve all existing stations along the route using electrical power that has a lower carbon footprint than the existing diesel trains. The frequency and quality of service will provide a viable transport alternative to communities along the route and will encourage people to switch from private car use. This will assist in Ireland reducing transport related greenhouse gas emissions and help combat climate change. The electrification of the rail line will predominantly follow the existing railway corridor and works will mostly be carried out within the extents of the existing railway corridor.

The main objectives of the DART+ Coastal North project include delivering the infrastructure to enable a higher frequency, higher capacity, reliable, electrified route to enable an increased DART service frequency between Drogheda and Dublin City Centre. Further information can be found in the project brochure or the project website.

The second non- statutory public consultation, Public Consultation No.2, focussing on the Preferred Option for DART+ Coastal North is scheduled to be held in Spring 2023 (09 May - 23 June). 

The first non - statutory public consultation period was held in Spring 2022. 

This consultation is our way of asking you, as potential users of the service or those likely to be affected by its development, for your views on our plans. Your local knowledge will inform the emerging design, help us to improve the scheme and ensure it will be a beneficial for you and the communities the route will serve.

If your property is likely to be directly affected by the works you should already have heard from us. Our Community Liaison Officer will be available throughout the process to ensure you are regularly updated on the current proposals and your views are taken into consideration as we progress the design. 

You can engage with us via the following means:
Website | www.dartplus.ie
Email | DARTCoastalNorth@irishrail.ie
Phone line | 01 233 4515

The Railway Order application is essentially an application seeking statutory consent (planning permission and acquisition of land) for the DART+ Coastal North railway infrastructure. The project is categorised as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and Iarnród Éireann applies directly to An Bord Pleanála for permission. The Railway Order application process is set out in the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 as amended by the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006. Following the proposed two phases of non-statutory public consultation, Iarnród Éireann will submit the Railway Order application. Any person or body may make a submission or observation in writing to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the application. The Railway Order application will include a number of technical documents and project drawings as well as an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Appropriate Assessment documentation (AA screening / Natura Impact Statement (NIS)). All these documents and drawings together with any feedback/submissions received from the public as part of the statutory public consultation process will be reviewed and considered by An Bord Pleanála before a decision on the application is made. We expect that An Bord Pleanála will conduct an Oral Hearing before a decision is made. At an Oral Hearing the authors of relevant reports and experts will give evidence on the submissions received and will be available for questioning. Further information on making a submission / observation in writing to the Board and Oral Hearing procedures are available from the An Bord Pleanála website.

The primary objective of the DART+ Coastal North project is to deliver the infrastructure to enable increased train frequency and capacity between Drogheda and Howth and Dublin City Centre. 

To support this objective, the project is proposing infrastructure that would enable the operation of both a DART shuttle service on the Howth Branch line as required, and/or a direct through service to/from Dublin City Centre, allowing for the capacity and frequency of DART+ services on both the Northern, and Howth Branch, lines to be maximised. This proposal has been developed to remove the crossing conflicts currently experienced at Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station which limit the frequency and capacity that can be achieved on the Northern Line. The proposed infrastructure will not prevent a direct service running on the Howth Branch. 

Final operational decisions will be made at a later stage and are subject to passenger demand and train frequency on the Northern Line and Howth Branch.