DART+ (DART Expansion)

10 car sets are Driver cab coaches at either end and 8 intermidate coaches inbetween them, not two 5 car sets coupled togther (although I'm sure some 5 piece sets will operate in pairs)

Any more details on this? I presume these routes are in addition to the existing Malahide to Bray/Greystones route? Having to change just to cross the Liffey sounds retrograde - and more like the DB experience.

Just trying to picture a service pattern with the least possible conflicts.

Drogheda- Connolly (Semi-Fast, using Clongriffin loops) 4-6tph, Malahide-Connolly (Slow) 6tph, Howth- Howth Junction Shuttle

M3 to Spencer Dock via MGWR 4tph, Maynooth to Bray/Greystones via GSWR (Drumcondra) 8tph

Hazelatch to GCD/DL 6tph/5tph

This isn't the -best- service pattern, but at least nobody has to wait outside Connolly for a train to pass.

Upgrading the Maynooth line as planned in DART+ West and then only giving a choice of Drumcondra or the Docks with only a bus/Luas or hike back to Connolly or the city centre would seem a backward step. Docklands is useful as an option for those it suits as a destination and as a way to get extra capacity but Connolly/TaraSt/Pearse (as destination or for transfer to DART) is where the majority want to go.

I can't see Maynooth services to Connolly being dropped after only DART+ West. Won't be at least until one of the proposed tunnels is operational: Either Metrolink allowing a transfer a city bound Metro at Glasnevin or a DART Underground allowing the trains to continue past Docklands (swing back to Pearse etc).

it would be slightly ridiculous to "upgrade" the Dart and then make it so you can't transfer from one Dart line to another without a 15 minute walk.

yeah I wasn't clear whether Glasnevin would be available before Metrolink opens (which will probably be 5 years after Dart+)

You'd still have the question of whether there will be capacity if large numbers of Maynooth-line passengers are trying to pile onto (already packed) Kildare-line Darts at Glasnevin to get to the City Centre. I guess the plan is that between some transferring onto the Luas, and some going onto Docklands the numbers will spread themselves out.

exactly . The FAQs are stating

Will any services to stations stop/be affected by the project?

The project will continue to serve all the existing stations along the Maynooth and M3 Parkway lines (including Pelletstown which is under construction). Some DART+ West services will terminate at the new Spencer Dock Station. The main change will be positive as there will be more frequent train services and higher passenger capacity.

Has there been any mention about how Sligo services will be affected by DART+?I would imagine journey times will be impacted and will they still terminate in Connolly.

Connolly is the primary stop for the IFSC. So yeah people definitely want to go to Connolly.

Maybe for silicon docks but Connolly is still best for the North quays

 And what's happening there that needs a such a delay on another consultation?

The first proposals (August 2020) were pretty widely accepted by the locals. However, when the second consulation happened, they had completely redone the proposals for Ashtown and rerouted the road through the stables, completely obliterating them with no real explanation why. As you can imagine, this didn't go down well.