Frequently Asked Questions

Anybody can make an observation about the Railway Order to the planning authority, i.e. An Bord Pleanála but there are different conditions depending on whether or not your property is referenced in the Railway Order.

All observations must be received by An Bord Pleanála by 5.30pm on 16^th May 2023.

• No Fee required
• Include your full name and address
• Email to SIDS@pleanala.ie

• By Post           DART+ South West Railway Order application

• Pay a €50 fee
• Include your full name and address
• On website www.abp.ie

• POST to                                 

The starting principle for the Project is to upgrade the existing railway corridor and to undertake all works, within the railway corridor. This can be achieved over the majority of the route, including building on the groundwork carried out under the original Kildare Route Project, which delivered the existing four track system and several reconstructed bridges from Hazelhatch & Celbridge Station to Park West & Cherry Orchard Station. The last remaining significant constraint is the area between Park West and Heuston Station, where four tracks reduce to two tracks. Extending to four tracks in this area will require an increase in the width of the existing rail corridor and this will have a potential impact on adjoining property owners. 
Six substations are proposed at intervals along the rail line to provide power to the network. Four are located on lands owned by CIÉ’s adjacent to the rail corridor.  The preferred location for the Park West and Kylemore substations is on third party land, requiring land acquisition.

 

Underground soil anchors are proposed for DART+ South West to support retaining walls. The type and height of the wall required will depend on the location. 

Underground soil anchors are standard practice internationally to reinforce walls and slopes adjacent to railway lines and motorways. Examples of other projects Iarnród Éireann locations where soil anchors are used include: Grand Canal Dock Station, Kent Station Cork and Tara St. Station There are also examples of their use in the UK, France, Germany, Italy.

Iarnród Éireann embarked on an extensive engagement with property owners and residents along the route, where soil anchors are proposed between September and December 2022. We will continue to engage with each landowner in relation to their individual situation, if the planning application is approved by An Bord Pleanála. Any substratum acquisition requirement will be determined and refined during the detailed Design Stage so it may reduce, but it cannot be increased. This detailed design stage will take place following the granting of planning permission by An Bord Pleanála. 

The DART+ South West project aims to commence commercial service in 2029, further to completion of construction works, testing and commissioning, which are subject to the availability of funding.
 

Track layout will remain unaltered between Hazelhatch & Celbridge Station and the Park West
& Cherry Orchard Station and no trains will be closer than at present to property boundaries in between these stations. Four locations are identified for substations along and adjacent to this section of the railway corridor at Hazelhatch, Adamstown, Kishoge and Park West; and may be new railway infrastructure development for the immediate locality.
Between Park West & Cherry Orchard Station to Heuston Station widening of the railway corridor and completion of four tracking will move some tracks closer to properties boundaries. For this section, design development is currently in progress and specific property boundaries that may be moving close are yet to be finalised. Two locations are also identified for substations along this section at Kylemore and Islandbridge / Heuston Station; and may be new railway infrastructure development for the immediate locality.
If your property has been identified as potentially impacted by the proposals, a letter will have been delivered to your property. A dedicated landowner specialist will be available to meet with individual property owners and provide regular updates on the project. In addition, a community liaison officer will also be available to provide regular updates on the project.

If you have a query, please contact the project team. Our contact details are available here

In order to minimise construction impacts, the majority of works will be carried out within the existing rail corridor, where possible.  
The retaining wall solution along both the north and south sides of the rail corridor where it is to be extended to four tracks may require the temporary acquisition of lands in third party ownership the duration of the works to facilitate the construction of retaining structures. Further design development and construction related solutions will seek to minimise this impact.
In order to maintain services 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. construction of bridges associated with bridge widening, substations, construction compounds). Every effort will be made to avoid, reduce, and/or mitigate negative impacts, however, there is likely to be some disturbance experienced by those in close proximity to the railway line caused by noise, lighting or fencing/hoarding erected associated with the construction activities. The types of construction work required at each specific location will determine the type of impact that may affect the area of your property. However, there will be general linear works required along the full length of the route, such as:
•    Overhead electrification equipment along the full extent of the railway line. This will be similar in style to that currently used on the existing DART network.
•    Modifications to the existing rail bridges and tunnels, such as modifications to the structure, track lowering or a combination of both.
•    Signalling upgrades and additional signalling will be required to the upgraded infrastructure. 
Interfaces with existing utilities, boundary treatments, drainage works, vegetation management and other ancillary works will be required along the length of the project. Upon appointment of a construction contractor a dedicated Community Liaison Officer will be put in place to communicate details of upcoming works and every potential mitigation will be put in place to minimise the disruption that may occur.
A number of construction compounds are required to facilitate construction works.  Where possible construction compounds are located on lands owned by Corás Iompair Eireann 
Constructions compounds also include those required to facilitate localised work, especially at bridges. Temporary acquisition of lands in third party ownership will be required. 
During the operational phase, the frequency of service will increase from the current 12 trains per hour per direction to 23 trains per hour per direction (i.e. maintain the existing 12 services, with an additional 11 train services provided by DART+ South West).