DART+ (DART Expansion)

Wasn't the "direct" curve at Limerick Junction in the past 100 years as well?

Indra Group getting a dim view from Irish Rail. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/04/22/irish-rail-board-voices-concerns-over-36m-it-project/

Indra Group is also the company chosen to implement the NTA's contactless payments solution.

The board of Irish Rail has expressed strong concerns at indications that the full delivery of a new information technology (IT) system to regulate train movements countrywide – on which €31.5 million has already been spent – could be in doubt.

Directors were told in early February that it would be January 2027 at the earliest and possibly summer next year before the first part of the train management system – covering the line to Rosslare, known as commissioning phase one (CP1) – would be in place.

Official minutes show that the then Irish Rail chairman, Steve Murphy, and project director Jason Lacey told the board they had concerns about the ability of IT contractor, Indra Group, to deliver the remaining seven phases of the project.

However, the development of software for the train management system has been beset by delays.

Official minutes show Lacey told the board he was not “overly confident” the January 2027 commissioning date would be achieved.

“It was noted that there is a risk that CP1 may not be completed until summer 2027. And the programme for completion of the remaining CP2 – CP8 phases is unlikely to be updated until CP1 has been achieved.”

The minutes state that it was originally envisaged the management system would be substantially deployed by the end of 2024.

The board was told that the first phase “represents a very small percentage of the train management system scope of work”.

The board minutes show that Lacey warned he had significant concerns about Indra’s ability to deliver the later phases of the overall project, known as CP 2-8, based on what he had seen to date.

The minutes maintain Irish Rail directors “noted that this is a very concerning development”.

The minutes state then board chairman, Murphy, “advised that he had expressed his concerns about Indra’s ability to complete the train management system” and offered Indra the opportunity to work with one of the rail company’s signalling suppliers.

Board directors sought management to update the NTA on Irish Rail’s assessment of Indra’s ability to deliver the full prospect.

Irish Rail said it continued to work with Indra to progress CP1 and the matter was being kept under review in close liaison with the NTA as approving authority.

The NTA told the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts that software for the CP1 phase was due to be handed over to Irish Rail in April for testing, which could take three months.

It said it could take another six months for the system to go through safety processes, including with the Commission for Railway Regulation.

The NTA suggested the development of the later phases could take two years.

All the Kerry ones will have been binned anyway in the last two weeks!

The bigger issue is Canney's vanity WRC2 getting funding out of order

If we look back ten years from now, how much of the dart+ scheme will be actually completed?

I had to look this up as it surprised me. The DART is 53km of electrified track. Mallow to Midleton is also about 53km. The Cobh spur is about another 9km. Dublin 53km. Cork 62km. Electrified Cork rail plans do beat current Dublin electrification on distance.

3 lines to be electrified in Dublin already have enforceable RO’s and have started CPO

Cork is at least 2-3 years behind assuming RO application doesn’t go to public hearing and isn’t challenged in court, best estimate is late 2031 for operation

Looking at late Q1 2028 now.

It is almost definite that backbench TDs of both parties have been told it's OK to attack ministries run by the other party. My local FFer acts as if he's not in Government on health stuff constantly - FG Minister - but not transport etc where they're FF.

Signage in general on the network has always been awful, I've noticed the improved maps as well but even now they're still only above the doors so if you're anywhere else in the carriage then good luck. Similarly at most stations there's still only a handful of little blue signs stuck onto lampposts to inform which station you're at.

It's basic stuff that's been solved for probably the best part of a century in other countries and really feeds into the feckless "sure it'll be grand" mentality, hopefully with the network expansion there'll be a serious kick up the arse to start getting this stuff right

Irish Rail says rumours new Darts are too big for tunnels are false

https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2026/06/02/irish-rail-says-rumours-new-darts-are-too-big-for-tunnels-are-false/

I was chatting to a driver yesterday, and he said they were planning on mixed traffic testing (I think that's what he called it) shortly, where the new units will be tested operating out of service in slots between regular scheduled services.

The correct PR answer is the train has visited Greystones for testing without issue. It’s been to Bray, Maynooth, Dundalk, Howth and Hazelhatch

But it hasn’t been the Greystones…