DART+ (DART Expansion)

Thunder87 · 16-10-2025 07:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123908832#Comment_123908832

I'm open to correction but would assume the "private settlements" quoted when the other cases were withdrawn refer to money changing hands.

It is what it is when we have such a broken system, all these vexatious objections, appeals and JR's cost the taxpayer god knows how many millions in construction inflation and the extra planning/design effort needed to make the applications as bulletproof as possible

riddlinrussell · 16-10-2025 07:55AM

Given recent clarifications around the JR/RO process that they don't have to stop the whole contract, surely the rest of Coastal North can proceed? (especially if this JR is as close to a slam dunk failure as possible)

In addition I'm pretty sure the only part of 'DART Coastal' happening In the immediate future is the Chargers at Drogheda which aren't part of the CN project, so are unaffected.

Seems pretty clear the focus is going to be on SW/W first so if this is as bad as stated above I don't see why IÉ wouldn't just let it ride to at least a first hearing to see what a judge thinks.

KrisW1001 · 16-10-2025 08:45AM

Yes, I get the impression that DART+ North is going to be a less urgent rollout than the other two projects, given that the Battery EMUs coming into service from next year will already meet the operational goal of “extend DART services to Drogheda” without a single metre of new construction.

West and Southwest can’t be serviced with BEMUs, so these need to be electrified first.

bk · 16-10-2025 09:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123909558#Comment_123909558

Yes, the works for the charging infrastructure at Drogheda Station is already well underway, some great pics of the works from a few months ago here:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/whelehan-brian-45662b20_bemu-charging-infrastructure-at-drogheda-activity-7328078650673684481-fN41

And of course the new BEMU trains to run on it have already arrived.

So Drogheda will be getting DART+ BEMU service soon (I believe later next year) regardless.

The RO is for full electrification and other works, which would allow the BEMU's to be replaced by EMU's (can just take the batteries off) to Drogheda, which will allow for greater frequency then the BEMU's can do. Other works and upgrades along the line too.

But yes, it wouldn't be the most urgent project.

Glaceon · 16-10-2025 10:00AM

I live in Drogheda but hadn't been down to the Marsh Road end for a long time, no wonder they had to close the car park there! The OHLE is in place on sections of platforms 2 and 3.

OisinCooke · 16-10-2025 03:59PM

Are the works separate to DART N that they ate doing in Drogheda for the BEMUs going to include the new platform on the Navan Branch? Or is that coming under the railway order?

goingnowhere · 16-10-2025 05:03PM

The BEMU support works in Drogheda are completely separate, so the substations and overhead kit went through normal planning

The 4th platform is RO

Daft Punk - · 17-10-2025 11:50AM

Apologies for ignorance on these matters - can someone post a link to the most up to date and generally important DART+ report available to the public on all matters relating to the DART+ in Dublin.

A1ACo · 17-10-2025 02:56PM

With regards to the earlier query about the overhead lines (OHLE) and clearances, below are some DART+ reports (I'd previously saved), with the most recent one specifically about OHLE on the Northern Line (a good few nice picture of stations and structures along the line too), and there was some chat about it on page 295 of this stream.

The differences in clearances between one voltage and the next appear to be a matter of inches (circa 2-8 inches or so) and depending the extent and context also e.g. if in tunnels. The UK forum chat mentions that the clearances in the UK were greatly increased in recent years.

Report

Annex-5-1-DART-Expansion-Rail-Electrification-Assessment.pdf

(As i mentioned before I think, I think the comment on the comparison table on page 29 maybe a bit off in details as a cut and paste regards 3kV DC systems).

DART+ DART+ West Public Consultation No. 2 - Useful Materials and Downloads

Volume 3F above has some nice OHLE and tracks drawings.

Also, some chat below on a UK forum about the differences in clearances between 1500 V DC and 25kV AC as also queried above a couple of days ago.

OHLE clearances, and 25kv v 1500v dc. | RailUK Forums

jd · 17-10-2025 04:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123907644#Comment_123907644

Lovely crowd

"A firm owned by Anglo Irish Maple 10 developer Sean Reilly and his family have launched a High Court challenge against the approved Dart+ Coastal North project.

Alcove Ireland Three, part of the McGarrell Reilly group, has launched judicial review proceedings against An Coimisiún Pleanála over the approval of the electrified railway line from Malahide to Drogheda."

EarWig · 17-10-2025 06:13PM

A spokesman for CIÉ, the commercial semi-state behind Irish Rail and a notice party in the proceedings, said the legal challenge did not at this point impact the schedule to proceed with “detailed design” for Dart North.

p_haugh · 17-10-2025 06:58PM

Article link:

https://www.businesspost.ie/companies/maple-10-developer-sean-reilly-firm-launches-judicial-review-against-e600m-dart-north/

highdef · 17-10-2025 11:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123914053#Comment_123914053

Paywall

CatInABox · 18-10-2025 08:06AM

Some of the relevant points from that article.

A spokesman for CIÉ, the commercial semi-state behind Irish Rail and a notice party in the proceedings, said the legal challenge did not at this point impact the schedule to proceed with “detailed design” for Dart North.

Good. The longer it goes on though, the more the impact will be felt, it'll particularly impact upon procurement and tendering.

According to the submission, the works for which the compulsory purchase was proposed were not necessary for the project. It said the impairment of Alcove Ireland Three’s right to develop its property would exceed any benefit achieved by carrying out works at the station rather than elsewhere between Malahide and Drogheda.

LOL. Very much a "we would like this project to go ahead, but just not here on our land" complaint. Anyway, the main complaint is the fact that the entire road frontage belonging to AITL is being CPO'd, which they say will put restrictions on how they can develop their land. IR want to put a substation on land not belonging to AITL, and colocate an OHLE maintenance depot on what is currently AITL land.

Their case seems to hang on whether IR should have looked at alternative locations for the OHLE compound, rather than just choosing to colocate it here. Countering that would be the fact that the compound would have to go somewhere (anywhere else on the line would almost certainly need to be CPO'd as well), and colocating it makes sense. IR have already said that they'd give them a right of way on the land, so it's not like IR are saying that they can never use their land again.

Hard to predict how this will go, despite the overwhelming common sense aspect to colocating the compound there. Plenty of permissions have been overturned in the courts due to something not being considered.

Overall though, this is something that could be settled fairly easily, perhaps with an injection of cash, perhaps with a modification of the plans.

Kermit.de.frog · 18-10-2025 02:40PM

They appear to have a valid complaint if they are looking at losing entire road frontage to their land. Seems extraordinary no one would have thought that could be a problem.

Consonata · 18-10-2025 03:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123914990#Comment_123914990

As far as I can see the land isn't even zoned for residential at present, so AITLs ability to develop the land was going to be at the discretion of the local planning office anyway.

Idbatterim · 19-10-2025 08:02AM

‘Out of control’: Critics slam use of judicial reviews in wake of legal challenge against Dart North

https://www.businesspost.ie/legal/out-of-control-critics-slam-use-of-judicial-reviews-in-wake-of-legal-challenge-against-dart-north/

spacetweek · 19-10-2025 08:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123904308#Comment_123904308

I see no reason why public consultation is required on “Railway infrastructure modification” and “general upgrades to existing signalling, telecoms and power supplies”. This should have been waved through and Irish Rail trusted to do whatever is needed to operate the railway as fast and efficiently as possible.

Citizen Six · 19-10-2025 09:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123915863#Comment_123915863

It might not be zoned for housing now, but probably will be in the future. I can see why they don’t want to lose road frontage, on land they stand to make a fortune on, at some future date.

loyatemu · 19-10-2025 10:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123917494#Comment_123917494

modifications to the Ennis Lane crossing maybe, which is specifically mentioned in the flyer. That crossing is primarily pedestrian access across the line, though there is also a locked gate that I assume the farmer uses occassionally. Otherwise I agree, it's all railway infrastructure. Also, 5 days later, they still haven't put any consultation documents online.

goingnowhere · 19-10-2025 11:13AM

The plan includes a second track from tunnel 4 to short of Greystones itself

That’s a RO, there are also fairly significant changes at Bray to platform 1 & 3

Consonata · 19-10-2025 01:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123917605#Comment_123917605

It's land speculation regardless though, like they are making the argument of loss of amenity of potential rezoning.

Developers buying up farmland at bargain basement prices and then lobbying for a redone to triple their value overnight is bad enough, if they're using their potential lottery ticket to prevent critical infrastructure going ahead I have no sympathy.

Citizen Six · 19-10-2025 02:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123918322#Comment_123918322

No sympathy here either. But those kind of people don't care about holding up infrastructure.

loyatemu · 19-10-2025 05:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123917899#Comment_123917899

The plan is a passing loop just south of the tunnel. As the plans haven't been released yet we don't know how long that loop is, but they're not doubling all the way to the station (which was in an earlier proposal). So no changes to any bridges, and probably no property acquisition involved.

PlatformNine · 19-10-2025 05:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123919278#Comment_123919278

I will have to try and dig up the Greystones Capacity Enhancement Study when I have some more time, but from my memory it is a very significant amount of double-track. You are correct that it won't be the entire length of track to the station, but it will be much more than just a 200-300m passing loop south of the tunnel.

I think it's supposed to be >1km section, from just south of the tunnel to somewhere south of the Ennis Ln LC. I believe its supposed to stop before the houses appear on the east side of the track and by extension before the Victoria Rd Bridge as they were supposed to be some of the more expensive sections to double, and were only recommended for the 4tph option.

That said they don't have to follow that study exactly, and they may just choose to make a small passing loop just south of the tunnel. However, I would be surprised if the preferred option (whenever it is released) doesn't look very close to what the study recommends.