Project Specific FAQs

The objectives of the DART+ West project is to increase capacity and electrify the line. Additional car parking facilities are not within the scope of the DART+ West project. However, Iarnród Éireann’s Network Enhancement Division and the National Transport Authority’s Park & Ride Development Office are working on other projects to deliver enhanced parking at stations, for cars and bicycles in parallel to DART+ West.

The DART+ West project team has considered the feedback received from the first round of public consultations and has continued the option selection process. Additional options have been considered and refinements have been made to previous options. A new multi criteria analysis (MCA) was conducted on all options taking account of the submissions received from the public, further studies and surveys undertaken and design development. The outcome of this exercise has resulted in the determination of a new preferred option for the Coolmine level crossing replacement. The outcome of this exercise resulted in the determination of a few preferred option for Coolmine which was presented during public consultation no. 2. This option for Coolmine level crossing proposes to divert vehicular traffic to existing crossings at Castleknock and Diswellstown Road with associated road junction improvements, to maintain traffic flows for current and future growth projections. The preferred option also involves the construction of a new cycle/foot bridge over the railway and canal at the level crossing.

Public participation during the design development process is a key element to the delivery of major infrastructure projects such as DART+ West. This process allows public feedback to be assessed and used in developing the design with knowledge of all issues. The Webinars are there for you to hear directly from the project team on the latest project design updates and ask any questions that you may have. A clear understanding of the project status and design will help you in preparing your submission on the project. View the ways in which you can send in your submission on the How to Engage page on dartplus.ie.  

The Maynooth Line Transport Study (CSEA/Systra, July 2019) is the reference document in relation to the traffic impact appraisal of level crossing closures and the traffic mitigation provided by providing additional bridges across the rail/canal corridor. This is provided in Annex 3.1 of the Preliminary Option Selection Report provided on the Public Consultation website. Section 3 of this report (Page 32) provides information on all automatic traffic counts (35 No.) and junction turning counts (48 No.) undertaken. Figure 3.1 and Figure 3.11 shows the locations of each automatic traffic count and junction turning count. This information was used to calibrate and validate the local area model, to provide an accurate representation of traffic movements within the study area. Section 4.2 of this report (Page 56) details the overall methodology followed in the road based assessment.

A number of temporary and permanent compounds are required along the length of the project. Temporary compounds are generally located adjacent to the site of individual elements of infrastructure that are being constructed, the depot or where major bridge or station works are required. It is envisaged that these compounds will only be required during the construction phase of the project. In addition to the existing maintenance compounds along the route, a requirement for new permanent maintenance compounds have been identified at Navan Road Parkway and the depot whilst the existing maintenance compound at Docklands will be retained but modified.
 

A total of twelve electrical substations are necessary at specific locations along the DART+ West route corridor to supply electrical power along the line. The locations are as follows: