DART+ (DART Expansion)

Maybe he’s read this forum :)

They may move DART+ Southwest ahead of it given it has full permission.

To be honest, It's one of the major downsides of breaking the project into so many parts. Like yes, it prevents small things from sinking the whole project, but it seems like we're going to have that happen anyway, with these necessary dependencies not happening. That, in addition to the duplification of work that happens across each individual planning proposal, really seriously calls into question for me the merits of breaking them into so many seperate projects.

We did that with BusConnects too and I honestly don't think I would call that a success.

If the above is accurate and there's so many dependencies then you'd think it would have made sense to have split the applications based on critical path dependencies rather than big neatly packaged projects.

i.e. if nothing can be done without X first being in place then that should have been it's own relatively simple planning application, instead of grouped in with one project which then ties everything else up

Until the RO is signed it would be unwise to undertake any works the RO covers

If you look at DART+ Southwest you only really needed the RO for the Park West/Heuston/Cabra bit the rest should be doable without any planning bar the substations.

For DART+ West an RO was needed for almost all the route due the impact of the level crossings. But you could have done Clonsilla-M3 and East of Ashtown without planning

They didn't seek a RO for the DART works in the 80's

People whose property will be affected by the Dart South West received another letter last month stating that construction will commence no sooner than 2026.Those people were advised that they needed to do nothing regarding legal advice on compulsory purchase until further notice. Must be annoying for anybody needing or wanting to move house. Eminent domain is the name of the game.

Some good footage of the testing taking place between Incicore & Hazlehatch!

Am I right to say that only BEMU sets have been delivered so far?

Not quite the first batch includes 6 EMU, second batch is entirely BEMU, third batch if/when ordered will be EMU

Why carry the extra weight of the batteries when most of the DART network does have overhead catenaries…

There is a reason why just about every country in Europe has gone for full electrification. Ireland and the UK are seriously behind the curve.

The reason is very simple, complete lack of trust in Government support and the planning system

You don't want to end up with a train stuck in the sidings you can't use

The first fleet order is sized as a 1:1 replacement of the 1984 DART fleet, thats no coincidence, thats how little trust there is in the money being made available for infrastructure. If everything else failed they had a home for the order and a business case.

BEMUs may be a stopgap solution for fairly short journeys, like Malahide-Drogheda. Long-distance mainline journeys are way beyond BEMU range. No doubt people will bring up the possibility of Hydrogen-powered MUs, which in my opinion are hugely problematic.

One reason why the powers that be may be scared of electrification is the UK's experience witth large shambolic cost-overruns. There are reasons for this and we can learn from the experience elsewhere.

You also say: "As for diesel, Cork and Belfast passenger services running on two stroke engines can't go on forever."

So we can't keep with diesel (OK), BEMUs don't have long range, and mainline electrification has to yield to high-priority commuter routes. What do you propose? Hydrogen power, with its huge uncertainties, logistical problems and other risks? Or maybe just shut down those pesky long-distance rail routes?