DART+ (DART Expansion)

That's leaving the state wide open to issues down the line, from substandard designs, to possible drainage and flooding issues, to unsafe roads. It would be like signing a blank check for future court cases by those affected.

It's probably also against EU law given the environmental impact of projects on European sites in particular wouldn't be assessed.

We'll see with luas finglas then since that's newly submitted. Here's hoping it gets an RO in May but I have my doubts

Just to be clear, a planning amnesty is not anything which I would ever support. Properly legislated changes to general rules are a different matter.

While I don't want to underestimate the problems the delayed depot might bring, I think its a bit pessimistic to say that the depot issues might make D+ completely inoperable. There is no denying the delays it might cause, but given the time it takes the electrify it was going to take quite a bit of time to get the full capacity D+ network anyways.

With the third order soon to be in place, there will "only" be 93 units left in the framework, or 5 orders(assuming 20 units per order) if they decide to fulfill the entire framework. I don't like to use the word only, as that is still almost two-thirds of the framework, but it isn't a doomed timeframe. If they place the fourth order sometime in 2027 and then place an order ever year after until 2031 when the framework expires, they can still complete the framework.

Its far from the ideal situation to be in, and I think its likely that at the current rate when the D+ network first opens they may be short units to operate at fully capacity. But I think any shortage of units we might see would be temporary while they are still being manufactured or commissioned. As Jim Meade put it, It's "not on a critical path" yet. That I do think if they take too long to get a new depot designed, or if it gets stuck in ABP or JR hell, then there might be problem, but I am trying not to think about that.

Also, what is the story with the D+W JRs? The court cases appear to be up on the high court website but there has been no publicity about it's a bit hard to find out what is going on. I'm assuming it's about the Ashtown crossing?

Is this set in stone or is there any chance this timeline could improve?

Everything has been said already but a vague date of 2027 to begin construction really is frightfully poor.

We've been talking about "DART+" / "DART Expansion" for a decade now and absolutely nothing has been delivered.

It's shameful that at this rate none of the proposed network expansions below will have even begun construction by the time the gates were meant to open. Is there any legitimate reason why preparing the tenders etc. is going to take 2-3 years?

Didn't someone say that the opportunity for JR of DART+ SouthWest had expired, which means it has moved ahead of Dart West?

yes techincally they are ahead but likely both will be delivered together

Does anyone know what the increase in capacity for the northern line will be from current service level to when the BEMUs are running from 2026?

I see the attached info graphic mentions that the increases in capacity are a comparison between post BEMU and the service level upon completion of Dart + Coastal North.

Will there actually be a significant increase in passenger capacity at peak when the BEMUs are rolled out?

The BEMUs will be direct replacements for the 29000s.

No frequency increase until the EMUs arrive and electrification happens.

The plan

Initial entry into service, this releases a few 29k's to strengthen any 4 car operations e.g. Docklands and ICR's used on Maynooth and Drogheda services released to intercity operations

Standardising on 29K sets will help greatly with timetable performance as the ICR's suck on dwell times and having a spare set of two will help ensure no short formations

Cork is the logical destination for the 29000 as the 2600's are 1994 builds and they are struggling with demand

Until the physical upgrade works are completed, turn back at Malahide, 4th platform at Drogheda there isn't scope for services

Couple of recent pics of when they finally got it moving. 😂

Is it just the angle of the photo or does the new train look quite narrow compared to the 22000 class beside it? I think the 22000's are 2.84m (9' 4") wide, but may be that narrow because of their length. But the new train looks even narrower than it, or at least no wider, which surprised me as I expected them to be wider than existing stock (maybe 10' wide or a slightly more) due to each car being so short in length.

The peak Docklands services really need to be 8 car 29s at this stage, so hopefully that does happen. After replacing all the floors!

One evening peak to Maynooth is a 4x29 also.

Test running started this week and is penciled in across Dublin for the next 10 days. Even going as far as Wicklow…