Dart+ South West needs to be delivered on schedule, says councillor

Irish Rail presented its plans for the expansion of the DART to South Dublin County Councillors earlier this week.

The project, when completed, will double train frequency and quadruple passenger numbers.

Commenting on the announcement Sinn Féin Councillor for the Lucan-Palmerstown-North Clondalkin area Derren Ó Brádaigh, said: “Firstly, I wish to welcome the news that now hopefully sets in motion actual delivery and a much needed improvement to our rail network.

“This can only be interpreted as good news at this stage, particularly for workers so dependent on public transport services.

“The DART ‘out west’ through my own area has been needed for many years without any real progress.”

Ó Brádaigh says that the Dart South West programme promises to deliver 23 trains per hour with a passenger increase from 5,000 to 20,000 along the planned line.

“At the end of 2019 and through the early months of 2020, Sinn Féin in the local area carried out a detailed Lucan Transport Survey that highlighted the specific issues lending to traffic congestion – these included poor bus service levels with a lack of routes to radial or orbital destinations and reported a huge dissatisfaction with all aspects of local train services.

“Delivery dates from the briefing were somewhat vague which did concern me – rail carriage orders won’t take place until 2022/23.

“Electrification of the line and construction we were informed will be in 2023/24 with the commencement of the first DART trains sometime 2025/26.

“This does concern me somewhat, as we all know that projects on this scale tend to run beyond schedule and I really do hope that the Dart South West doesn’t become a project gone south.

“Given the traffic volumes in Lucan already and considering the housing expansion planned with the development of the Clonburris and Adamstown SDZ’s in Lucan and Kilcarberry in Clondalkin and in planning for a forecast additional 19,000 people in this area by 2028, it is essential that delivery dates and promised service levels are now met.

“Therefore, I would encourage everyone living in Lucan, Adamstown and Clondalkin to have their voice heard now.

“A six week public consultation is now underway until June 23 – you can register to attend the public webinar. Just email dartsouthwest@irishrail.ie and state your area preferred webinar.”