Frequently Asked Questions

Railway Order application is broadly similar to the planning application process. The project is categorised as 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 two phases of public consultation, we 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 and / or the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and / or the compulsory acquisition requirements. 

The Railway Order application will include a number of technical documents and project drawings and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report. All of 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 they make a decision. 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 Board’s website .

DART+ South West Programme is seeking to significantly increase the frequency and capacity of train services between Hazelhatch & Celbridge and Heuston/Grand Canal Dock. This can be achieved by changing to electrified, high capacity DART trains and increasing the frequency of trains. Delivery of this project will support the existing communities along the railway and support future sustainable development. It will serve all existing stations along the route as well as Kishoge Station in the future, using electrical power that has a lower carbon footprint than the existing diesel trains. The frequency and quality of service that will be provided will provide a viable transport alternative to communities along the route and help encourage people to switch from private car use. This will assist in Ireland reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport and help combat climate change. The electrification of the rail line will predominantly follow the existing railway corridor.

Yes.  The DART+ South West will provide capacity for up to 11  additional services per hour and per direction - four will finish service at Heuston and seven will follow the Phoenix Park Tunnel Branch Line towards the Docklands area.

The Kylemore Road Bridge replacement proposals for DART+ South West will be compatible with the future provision of Luas across Kylemore Road Bridge in terms of accommodating the necessary loading and providing the flexibility to extend the bridge laterally in the future.

 

Despite the impacts of Covid-19 on public transport and passenger numbers as a whole, Iarnród Éireann, and the National Transport Authority remain firmly committed to the DART+ South West Project and supporting the implementation of Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework. DART+ South West is required to secure the long-term sustainability of public transport post-Covid life in the Greater Dublin Area and will ensure that Ireland meets its many ambitious long-term national climate change targets and in transportation going forward.

The National Transport Authority published the draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042 in November 2021. The draft Strategy identifies that forecast demand for travel, when considered in tandem with the need to reduce transport emissions, has shown that, over the lifetime of the Transport Strategy, there will be a requirement to further extend DART services to key locations in the GDA. An extension of the DART service on the Kildare Line to Naas / Sallins will provide additional capacity to this area, including to a planned regional Park & Ride site in this vicinity.