DART+ (DART Expansion)

I'm used to seeing actual bus stops on a maotrorway here, even though most of them are no longer in use, so I guess a lay-by set back from the road with a physical barrier (like the existing lay-bys on our motorway network) is as good as "off line" to me. Each to their own though.

Back to actual DART….

What I'd really like to see some day is that busier stations get improved comfort. Our local station here in Brandenburg looks much like any DART station, with a couple of bus stop style shelters for the rain but it's not a very hospitable place to be in inclement weather or even when the sun is beating down in Summer. The next town along is bigger and is served by more trains like the regional expresses that pass us by. That town has a near full length continuous shelter over one of the platforms (the up platform towards Berlin). It's a substantial structure but makes waiting for a train there a much more pleasant experience.

I wonder would there be scope at least at branch or busier interchange stations to examine the possibility of such full length platform roofs. I'm thinking the up platforms at Maynooth, Clonsilla, Broombridge, Glasnevin (planned anyway I think?) would really benefit from them. On DART+ SW I think Kylemore should get one if Lucan Luas goes past there as looks likely. Anywhere else that could benefit from upgrading from the bus stop style shelters to something better?

I didn't really think about that to be honest. I was thinking post Finglas Luas, expecting a lot of people to change to DART there to continue towards the city on heavy rail but you're probably right. Broombridge might be a place where both sides could be deserving of a full length platform roof.

I hope Metro is going to raise the bar in what passengers expect from their stations.

I don't see a load of homeless people setting up camp on the platform at Maynooth or Clonsilla. Come on now.

Homeless people (God love them) tend to congregate in the city centres. We don't see much of it in suburbia, probably because homeless people often beg or need access to drug services or hostels that they might use at night. These things are all much more difficult to access out in the suburbs. Also, homeless people don't necessarily want to be hassled by Irish Rail security. It's much easier to go under a bridge that "nobody" is responsible for than trying to set up camp on a busy railway platform with Irish rail security passing by regularly. I just don't buy that homelessness is a reason not to erect full length platform shelters, just like those planned for Metro actually. Why should a metro level DART station be much less hospitable in the lashing rain than a surface or elevated Metro station?