Project Specific FAQs

It is important to note that the DART+ Coastal North Project scope includes the construction of infrastructure to enable a planned increase in service, capacity and frequency on the Northern Line, inclusive of the Howth Branch Line. The development of timetables will progress separately to the DART+ Coastal North Project under the responsibility of Iarnrod Éireann Operations Division. 

The development of service timetabling is an entirely operational procedure, which will be carried out separately to this DART+ Coastal North Project. Future timetables will be directly determined by future passenger demand. 

Every substantial timetable change goes through a public consultation process of its own, organised by the NTA, known as the Timetable Customer Consultation Process. Iarnród Éireann are required by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to publish timetable proposals online for customers to comment on and input to the service proposals. This process is usually live for approximately 3 weeks and takes place a number of months in advance of the proposed timetable changes. Once all inputs are received, they are compiled and reviewed in conjunction with the NTA. 

Iarnród Éireann will provide updates on changes to timetables as they are developed over the coming years.

The preliminary design process for DART+ Coastal North has Identified a variety of locations which may be used as construction compounds to allow for the construction of the project. Details of compound locations are included in Annex 1: Schematic Layout Drawings, and in Annex 3.2 Technical Optioneering Report: Electrification of the Northern Line between Malahide and Drogheda, available through the project website www.dartplus.ie

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. 

The preliminary design process for DART+ Coastal North has established that 8 new electrical substations will be required at key locations along the rail line between Malahide and Drogheda to provide power to the network. 

The proposed substation locations are identified within the Schematic Layout Drawings in Annex 1 of the PC2 Supporting Documents, available through the project website www.dartplus.ie. The proposed substation locations along the line include:
-    Drogheda
-    Bettystown
-    Gormanston
-    Balbriggan
-    Skerries North
-    Skerries South
-    Rush and Lusk
-    Donabate

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. 

Some access to third party lands will be required. Should this be required formal contact will be made with the relevant landowner and permission will be sought for access. 

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. 

A noise assessment report will be undertaken as part of the EIA, and if deemed necessary, the design may include noise mitigation measures, e.g. natural screening, noise fences/barriers and landscaping.

Potential construction impacts from limited interventions will likely be minimal given that the line between Connolly and Howth is already electrified. Some site-specific interventions will be required between Howth Junction & Donaghmede and Drogheda stations, associated with increasing the rail capacity. Between Malahide and Drogheda, DART+ Coastal North will involve the erection of overhead line infrastructure to facilitate the running of electric trains. In order to maintain services for our customers during the day, the majority of the construction works along the railway line itself will take place at night. Works outside of the live railway corridor can progress during the day i.e. modifications to bridges, construction of substations, construction compounds. Every effort will be made to avoid, reduce, and/or mitigate negative impacts through the construction and operational phases.

As well as Iarnród Éireann being committed to this project, it is provided for in the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The project will go ahead subject to receipt of funding, granting of the Railway Order approval from An Bord Pleanála and approval of the Project Business Case by Government.