DART+ (DART Expansion)

Or closing Killester and having a new one closer to the city.

Clontarf Rd and Killester Stations are about 1.7km apart (from end of platforms), which is probably far enough that it would be fine to put another station inbetween them. Especially considering it is only the second station from Connolly and that if Clontarf Golf Club was redeveloped (as it should be!) it could house thousands.

Removing current Killester station makes it a lot easier for any quad tracking plans.

I’d say there is zero chance of Kilbarrack closing.

I think it’s safe to say the current location for Killester station isn’t good enough in this day and age.

It should definitely be on a main road connecting with other public transport and not hidden in the middle of housing estate.

The cost of building a new one would be money well spent and if allows for more four tracking, even better.

It is quite useful to know that CIE already own 2 acres of the gold club site, I wonder which part of the site it is. If it’s the track-side of the site that would be a great advent for DART Underground, given the site would be probably the best place for the northern tie-in.

Still intriguing to know that finally there’s a potential plan to relocate the golf course. How likely is this to actually happen is the only thing I’m wondering…?

Clontarf station was a basic halt with two simple platforms. It was located at the bridge over the Howth Road. The old station building is still there.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CumyBo6ABS7bf8G4A?g_st=ipc

Nah mate, can't build there. There's a sewer pipe. That's why DCC insisted in leasing the area to the local gym for a car park, rather than look at building housing there.

Metrolink construction is so incredibly disruptive to it that it will take many many years

The enabling works packs are out to tender now. All the main works packages will be out to tender by year end with contractors likely to be appointed in 2026. Some major works will then start in 2027 like the renovation of Connolly and construction of Spencer Dock. Full route wide construction will likely be underway in 2028. Completion will be 2031 to 2032. Also DART+ SW will be delivered at the same time as both projects will be integrated and potentially DART+ North also, resources permitted.

The problem with all of that is that metrolink have a railway order to build glasnevin station which will be hugely disruptive to DART+ West construction programme.

There are of course further issues on a macro scale. It seems that DART+West, DART+ Southwest, DART+ Coastal North, Metrolink, Luas Finglas, multiple bus connects corridors and multiple active travel schemes are programmed to be under construction simultaneously. The strain on the state's finances and the resources of the construction industry will be really tested over the next decade and one or more of these projects could easily be postponed and understandably so, Ireland and other similarly sized countries have never undertaken such a mammoth amount of relative mega projects in such a short space of time plus there are also transport schemes in regional cities and on intercity rail to consider. If it can be done there's no doubt that Dublin, especially the north side of Dublin, will be utterly transformed in a decade. We will be living in a very different city in 10 years time, if all this can be delivered.