DART services to run every 10 minutes under proposed plan

PROPOSALS to increase DART services in the city to every 10 minutes have been unveiled as part of a planned expansion in 2016. 

Customers can view the draft 2016 schedule online and offer feedback on the proposals that were announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe last week.

Draft schedule revisions for routes from Connolly (DART, Northern Commuter, Maynooth/M3 Commuter, Sligo/Dublin, Rosslare/Dublin and Belfast/Dublin) have now been posted online at www.irishrail.ie for customers to review and comment upon.  

Major changes to Connolly services will see an increase in weekday DART frequency, from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes, all day,

There will also be an earlier start time for weekday DARTs with services proposed to operate at 05.50am from Malahide (currently 06.30), 6am from Howth (currently 06.05am), and 05.35am from Bray (currently 05.40am)

A consistent schedule every 15 minutes on Saturday, and every 20 minutes on Sunday will eliminate some existing schedule gaps.

Iarnród Éireann is advising customers on all Connolly routes to view the draft schedules, as many services will see departure time changes, or changes to stopping patterns of individual trains that may affect their journeys.

The enhanced services proposed follow passenger growth over the past two years, with Iarnród Éireann passenger journeys increasing from 36.7 million in 2013 to 37.8 million in 2014, with five per cent growth recorded so far this year across all services.  DART growth is up eight per cent so far in 2015.

Minister Donohoe said the new changes that are being proposed for Connolly routes will offer enhanced frequency on services into and out of that station, giving commuters more choice and better connectivity.

“This should help Iarnród Éireann to continue to build on the success they have had in recent years in growing passenger numbers,” he said.

Cllr Carrie Smyth (Lab) welcomed the launch of the public consultation plan.

“I am very pleased that Irish Rail has announced a public consultation on proposed changes to DART and Connolly services in 2016,” she said. “Passenger numbers continue to grow on these services and it is good to see Irish Rail working to address this.

“Weekday services from Shankill would start at the earlier time of 05.40am and there would be increased frequency, and consistency, of all trains at weekends.

“I advise all train users to take a look at the proposals, which are open until Tuesday, December 8 at www.irishrail.ie”