Proposed rail improvements to benefit communities
IARNÓD Éireann has commenced the second round of public consultation on Dart+ South West, which seeks to electrify existing rail lines between Hazelhatch, Celbridge and Heuston Stations and to quadruple capacity.
The proposed rail improvement is part of the DART+ Programme and is funded by the National Transport Authority under Project Ireland 2040.
It will provide sustainable, electrified, reliable and more frequent rail services to customers, revolutionising capacity between Hazelhatch and Celbridge station that incorporates Adamstown, Cherry Orchard and Park West and Dublin City Centre.
The project will also continue the four-tracking of the rail line from Park West and Cherry Orchard Station into Heuston, extending the works completed on the route in 2009.
It will see track improvements and bridge modifications to facilitate electrified train services and include the construction of a new station at Heuston West.
Speaking at the commencement of the public consultation on Wednesday, November 10, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade said: “Today is an exciting milestone in the progress and delivery of the DART+ Programme and another step towards building a more sustainable and accessible transport network.
“We have listened to the public feedback from the first round of consultation, addressed their concerns and we have a great Preferred Option to present to the public for this next round of consultation.
“I encourage everyone to engage with the consultation process and have your say in shaping this next stage of the transformative DART+ Programme.”
Some of the benefits of the DART+ South West project include an increase of train frequency from 12 trains per hour per direction to 23, the quadrupling of passenger capacity from 5,000 passengers per hour to 20,000 per hour per direction.
Enhanced public transport opportunities for communities along the route for work, education and leisure purposes are also proposed and to facilitate the future growth and development of existing communities, which will benefit from the connectivity of DART+ South West.
The second phase of public consultation on this project is now live, and it is designed to present the preferred option for provision of DART+ South West to communities and stakeholders along the route.
Members of the public are encouraged to review the full details at www.dartplus.ie, which also features an interactive virtual room. Details of a dedicated phone line, email address and online feedback form are all available at dartplus.ie.
Once design work is complete following the public consultation, a Railway Order Application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in mid 2022. A statutory consultation period will take place after lodging of the application and it is expected that An Bord Pleanála will hold an oral hearing on the application, which will be open to all members of the public.
