DART to be extended to Kilcock as new Depot location announced

Iarnród Éireann has today confirmed the extension of DART services to Kilcock Station in Kildare and launched a public consultation on an updated location for the new DART+ Depot.

With the new proposed location of the DART+ Depot west of Kilcock, electrification and DART services will now be extended to serve the growing Kildare town as part of delivery of the DART+ Programme.

DART services to Kilcock and the new Depot location mean:

• A transformation of rail services to and from Kilcock with more trains and more capacity. Currently served by nine trains each way daily, and hourly at peak, the extension will now deliver infrastructure to support DARTs up to every 10 minutes each way during peak time for Kilcock
• In addition, Intercity services will continue to stop at Kilcock Station
• An upgraded Kilcock Station including a second track between Maynooth and Kilcock, a new platform and a fully accessible pedestrian access bridge with lifts
• New, more accessible DART carriages for local rail users
• Fully electrified rail network to Kilcock and beyond to the Depot for more sustainable transport
• A Depot to service and house a fleet of up to 750 new DART carriages, the first of which are currently undergoing testing and safety approvals before entering service in 2027
• When fully operational the Depot will provide more than 100 new positions for skilled maintenance staff

A Depot was previously planned at a site on the DART+ West project near Maynooth, but was not included in the Railway Order approval from An Coimisiún Pleanála. Extensive site identification work undertaken over the past 18 months saw fifty potential sites adjacent to the railway line across the Greater Dublin Area examined, before the site west of Kilcock was confirmed as the preferred Depot location.

The depot development includes:

• A second track constructed between Maynooth and the depot location
• A new depot building, maintenance shed and offices including car and bicycle parking
• Improved staff amenities including changing rooms, rest areas, office space with training rooms, enhanced lighting and ventilation throughout and improved accessibility
• Site service and maintenance facilities including an automatic train wash and vehicle inspection unit
• A new test track and extensive stabling for trains
• An electrical substation and a security building
• Three road access points

Subject to receipt of a Railway Order and funding approvals, the DART+ Depot is targeted for completion in 2031.

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said at Kilcock Station today:

“This welcome announcement for Kilcock will transform public transport in the locality bringing DART services to a growing community. A more sustainable, more frequent and more reliable rail system will support more people to get out of the car and on to the train, and will be a key enabler for housing development. The Depot is an integral part of the DART+ Programme ensuring we have the capability to stable and maintain the new DART+ Fleet as it grows, and provide more trains across the network to lines and communities that really need them. I encourage the local community and all interested parties to engage with the consultation process and provide their feedback to help shape the ongoing design development.”

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to be to be launching the public consultation for the new proposed DART+ Depot. This Depot will act as a key enabler to the entire DART+ Programme and the launch of this consultation represents a major step forward in providing a place to house and service the new DART fleet.

I am also pleased that we have been able to use the opportunity presented by identifying a new location for the depot to also extend the DART service to Kilcock. This will enable us to provide even more people with access to a high capacity rail service operating at a “turn up and go” level of frequency at peak times.

I encourage the public and all relevant stakeholders to engage with this important consultation.”

Minister of State Sean Canney with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports said:

“I welcome the public consultation on the new DART+ Depot, and the proposal to extend DART services to Kilcock. This proposal has the added benefit of supporting us in realising the vision set out in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and represents a first step in our longer term vision to double track the rail line from Dublin and Mullingar.”

Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority Anne Shaw added:

“The extension of DART services to Kilcock is a significant milestone for the DART+ Programme and for the wider TFI network. It will give the local community more frequent, more reliable and more accessible services, making sustainable travel a realistic option for many more passengers.

“The new depot location is essential to supporting the expanded DART+ fleet and ensuring that we can deliver improved services right across the network. These investments will help us meet growing demand and provide a better experience for every passenger.

“I encourage people in Kilcock and the surrounding area to take part in the public consultation. Local knowledge is vital in shaping a project that will serve the community well into the future.”

Public Consultation Process

Public Consultation on the DART+ Depot is open from today, Monday 16^th March until Friday 27^th April. Full details on the project as well as how to provide feedback can be found on www.dartplus.ie.

Public participation during the design process is a key element to the delivery of major infrastructure projects such as DART+ Depot. This project is now seeking feedback on the ‘Preferred Option’ for the Depot development and the extension of the DART to Kilcock. Local knowledge and comments will inform the preferred design.

Once this public consultation process is completed, all feedback and submissions received will be reviewed and assessed as part of the next stage of the design development. Following a full appraisal of the feedback, a public consultation feedback report will be prepared to document this process.

All information gathered by the project team will be used to inform the design development of the project, environmental assessments, and ultimately the draft Railway Order application which will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála later in 2026.