DART+ (DART Expansion)

Idbatterim

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/new-bray-greystones-dart-plan-aims-to-increase-frequency-of-trains-by-50pc/a257307665.html

I just read this... wow!

"It is expected that a planning application will be made on the project in the third quarter of 2026.

Subject to planning being granted and funding being allocated, it is expected that construction will begin in 2028 with a construction period of approximately two years.

“The NTA welcomes the next phase of the DART+ programme being brought forward to consultation,” Hugh Creegan, interim chief executive of the National Transport Authority said"

Four years for this joke project?

6 week public consultation started yesterday, runs until December 4th... lol... a month is more than enough. Are these consultations even required by law ?

loyatemu

FWIW here is the technical report previously discussed. The interventions it analyses are

• Double track Bray Head-Greystones station (2.4km)
• Passing loop (800m) south of Bray Head
• Double track Bray Station - Putland Rd (700m)
• New crossover at Bray
• New head-shunt at Greystones

and combinations of the above. The addition of the loop doesn't add a huge amount of benefit as trains would have to stop in the loop to allow passing, meaning a longer runtime. Much of the improvement seems to come from the new signalling system.

Even with the current signalling, a 20 minute service is theoretically possible, but there would be 100% track utilisation and the driver would have sprint along the platform in Greystones. I guess they think a small improvement makes it feasible. The report states that 75% track utilisation is the max recommended. Only the crossover is now in the "preferred option" but it isn't shown in isolation in the technical report, only in combination with the loop, so it's difficult to assess really.

riddlinrussell

4 years to demolish a section of platform and lay some track, and to upgrade a single level crossing (with construction of one building) presumably all on IÉ land? Am I misreading or is that the actual totality of the works proposed here?

Why does any of that other than the new building need any consultation or process, and why would the building not just need standard planning permission to Wicklow CC??

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123921699#Comment_123921699

The Children's Hospital, maybe?

cgcsb

To be fair irish rail were going ahead with consultation on the full DART+ south 2 or 3 years ago now and the NTA shat the bed and pulled the plug, not wanting to find the sandymount residents. Maybe that was a good thing to do in the face of a hopeless 'planning' system