Latest news with #DART+West
The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
People on public transport deserve to feel safe & that's Govt priority with bold new plans, says Darragh O'Brien
IRELAND has been beset by anti-social behaviour on public transport for a number of years. The 2 A dedicated Transport Security Force is being established Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The rise in incidents ranging from verbal abuse and intimidation to physical assaults has endangered passengers and staff, and also damaged trust in the In the run up to the general election, This force will operate under the National Transport Authority. Writing in the Irish Sun on Sunday today, Minister for Transport READ MORE IN OPINION MY priority for the next five years of this government is to drive forward a transformative programme of investment in sustainable and modern transport infrastructure to boost I want to continue to invest in reliable, accessible, and efficient transport links between our towns, cities, and rural areas. This includes expanding our bus and rail fleets, building new rail stations, and accelerating the electrification of public transport. We are progressing several major projects nationwide that will significantly improve Ireland's transport system. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. Most read in The Irish Sun In These aim to provide over 200km of enhanced bus and WORK PROGRESSING I am pleased to say that An Bord Pleanála has approved all 12 Core Bus Corridor applications in Dublin. My department aims to have the first of the Core Bus Corridors in construction this year. We have also received planning approval for DART+ West and full approval for DART+ South West and the new DART+ Fleet, currently undergoing testing, which will start rolling out on the Northern line from Dublin to/from In April 2025, I was pleased to open a new 'through' platform at Kent Station in Works are also continuing on the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme Phase 1 works and I look forward to these being complete in 2026. Luas Cork, the new light rail project for the city is also progressing. For public transport to function effectively and accommodate a growing number of A reliable and secure system not only protects passengers and staff but also builds public confidence, encouraging greater use of sustainable transport. One of my key priorities is addressing safety on public transport. While significant progress has been made in recent years through increased investment in safety measures, antisocial behaviour — or even the perception of it — remains a serious challenge. SAFE AND SECURE NETWORK Those who rely on or work within our public transport system must feel secure. That is why I have initiated work to establish a dedicated Transport Security Force, which was a key commitment in the Programme for Just this week, I met with the While the past few years have seen significant progress on investment in safety measures, antisocial behaviour remains a serious issue, and it is those who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents. Work in the Department for Transport is advancing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress the Transport Security Force commitment, in conjunction with the NTA. The decisions over the appropriate model for the Transport Security Force are in the preliminary stages of the deliberative process. The introduction of such a force will require the development of legislation too which can have a significant lead time, but I will keep the public updated as we progress through the various stages. Underpinning this commitment to delivering a safe and secure public transport network, the ongoing interim work on public transport safety will continue, as will the support and funding for operator measures, such as the recent extension of the Dublin Bus Security Pilot Scheme. EMERGENCY ALARMS All public transport operators are continuing to expend significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of antisocial behaviour. For example, all services are now fully fitted with CCTV cameras, various text alert systems and control centres have been introduced. Across the operating companies, security screens and safety cabins are provided where possible for driver safety. There are emergency alarms onboard all vehicles which can be activated by drivers to contact their central control centres. As Minister for Transport I am continuing to work closely with industry stakeholders to identify measures to improve passenger safety. We have established a public transport safety working group, with representatives from the public transport operators, the commercial bus sector, the NTA, unions, I will continue to engage with operators and unions and will continue to work with all stakeholders to provide safe, sustainable public transport.
The Journal
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Plan to expand DART to Kildare and Meath gets go-ahead after legal challenges dropped
PLANS TO EXTEND DART rail lines into Kildare and Meath can now go ahead, as legal action against Irish Rail's expansion project have been dropped. An Bord Pleanála had granted a Railway Order, meaning that they had approved the plans, in November 2024, but two Dublin city businesses had delayed the project with court action. Two separate judicial reviews were scheduled for hearing in the High Court this week relating to the Dart+ West plan, though the court heard yesterday that the cases had been withdrawn. The project is now free to proceed – pending government funding. A Department of Transport spokesperson would not confirm that the project will receive funding – but said that it is under consideration as part of the National Development Plan, a long-term government strategy aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing public services. 'The National Development Plan is currently under review by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service and Reform, including funding for DART+,' the spokesperson said. If this funding is granted, the DART+ West project will see the expansion of the DART network from Connolly station in Dublin to Maynooth, Co Kildare and the M3 Parkway in Bennetstown, Co Meath. According to Irish Rail, the project will increase train capacity from the current six trains per hour per direction up to 12 trains per hour per direction, and will increase capacity from 5,000 to 13,200 passengers per day. Advertisement It's one of four parts of the DART+ project, which will see the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) network grow from 50km in length to over 150km. Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann / Iarnród Éireann Currently, The DART only runs along Dublin's coast, from Malahide or Howth in the north to Greystones in Wicklow in the south. The ambitious plans will also double hourly passengers numbers from 26,000 in each direction to 52,000, and will treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area rail network. In addition to the infrastructure development, 185 carriages have been ordered for the DART+ Fleet, with up to 750 in total possible under a framework contract with French fleet manufacturer Alstom. A carriage from the new DART+ fleet. Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann / Iarnród Éireann The first fifteen carriages, made up of three five-carriage trains, have been delivered, and Irish Rail have confirmed that they have commenced the testing, commissioning and regulatory process. These carriages are expected to begin entering service next year. Irish Rail said it hoped to award contracts for construction of the Maynooth and M3 Parkway lines by the end of next year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
23-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Plans to extend DART network to go ahead as judicial reviews withdrawn
Two judicial reviews for the DART+ West project linking Dublin city centre and Maynooth and the M3 Parkway have been withdrawn, paving the way for work to begin on the project next year. An Bord Pleanála approved the Railway Order for the project in July 2024, but the court actions had delayed its progression. Iarnród Éireann said the project will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area rail network, increasing it from 50km to 150km, extending to Maynooth, M3 Parkway, Hazelhatch and Drogheda. Last month, it invited applications for the first phase of the tender process for the project. Work is expected to begin at the end of 2026, while the first of 185 new carriages are due to enter service in the same year. Irish Rail is awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála on the Railway Order it submitted for the DART+ Coastal North, which will link the city centre and Drogheda. The planning process is still underway for the DART+ Coastal South route linking Greystones in Wicklow to Dublin city centre.
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
DART expansion plan gets boost after High Court hears objections withdrawn
Two separate judicial reviews were originally scheduled for hearing in the High Court this week relating to the DART+ West element of the plan. The court heard that the cases, taken by two businesses in the west of Dublin city, had been withdrawn. The move means that the project, which last July was granted a Railway Order, the equivalent of planning permission for rail developments, is now free to proceed – pending Government funding. Preliminary works are expected to begin next year with contracts for the more major construction projects to be awarded by the end of 2026. DART+ West will expand the high-frequency electric train service from Dublin city to Maynooth in Co Kildare and the M3 Parkway park and ride station in Bennetstown, Co Meath. It is one of four elements of the DART+ project which would collectively triple the length of the existing service from 50km to 150km and double hourly passenger numbers from 26,000 in each direction to 52,000. DART+ West is expected to see some of the biggest increases in passenger numbers with a doubling of train services along the Maynooth line. For that to happen will require works that include provision of a new station at Spencer Dock in the city centre and developments at Connolly Station, including a new entrance at Preston Street. One other part of the project, DART+ South West, was granted a Railway Order last November. It will extend the service from Heuston Station to Hazelhatch in Co Kildare and from Heuston to the city centre via the Phoenix Park tunnel.. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more An application for a Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North, which would extend services from Dublin to Drogheda, is awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála. DART+ Coastal South would see increased frequency on the existing Greystones to city centre route and an application is expected to be made for it shortly. The overall project also involves the provision of 185 new rail carriages, currently on order, with the option to order 750 in total if all aspects proceed. The first ten carriages have arrived and are due to be put into service next year. Early cost estimates for the complete project were put at around €3 billion several years ago but it is expected that figure will rise. The Government has only approved funding up to contract award stage and will have to make a decision at that point whether to back the project's further progress. The judicial review proceedings against DART+ West were taken by businesses on the Navan Road in Dublin, near Ashtown railway station. A sitting of the High Court heard the cases had been struck out after an agreement had been reached that was satisfactory to all sides. A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the terms of the agreement were confidential.
