Local unease at new DART plans

The extension of DART services to Drogheda could come at a cost to Northside commuters.

Direct DART services for Howth, Sutton and Bayside could be replaced by shuttle DART services in order to improve capacity on the line. 

Iarnród Éirean has lodged a railway order application with An Bord Pleanála to extend the electrified DART network from Malahide to Drogheda.

At present, capacity on the line is 4,800 during peak hours but this would be doubled to 8,800 once works are complete.

The plans have been put out to members of the public, with members of the public encouraged to chime in and add their two cents to the issue.

The plan calls for “the reconfiguration of the existing track layout and associated infrastructure in the vicinity of Drogheda MacBride, Malahide, Clongriffin and Howth Junction & Donaghmede stations, and infrastructure to enable operational flexibility for both direct Howth to city and Howth to Howth Junction DART shuttle services as required.”

The consultation is open until September 20.

Councillors for Howth-Malahide have expressed their concerns over the plan.

Fianna Fáil councillor Cathal Haughey said, “while the extension of the DART to Drogheda is welcome, it should not result in the loss of a Direct DART from, Howth, Sutton, Bayside and to the city and I will be strongly making this case to An Bord Plenála.”

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins called the idea “crazy.”

She said, “don’t introduce a crazy idea like a DART shuttle service which will cause the gates to be down 50% of every day.”

“If they close the level crossing 32 minutes out of every hour; it is going to cause absolute mayhem.”

“They’ll have people queuing up on foot, on bikes, in cars, and buses – we have to fight against these mad suggestions.”

Comments on local TD Cian O’Callaghan’s Facebook page also show clear unease at the plans among local residents.

One local resident, Miriam, wrote “these improvements are welcome but I’m not willing to lose my DARTS to and from Howrth under any circumstances.”

Another local resident, Vinny, wrote “it’s not fair on the residents of Baldoyle, Bayside, Sutton and Howth. There will be no infrastructure or proper direct train services to service the ever-increasing demands on the area. Irish Rail needs to engage with these communities. We cannot lose our direct service to Howth.”

One commentator, Noelle said “if this plan is to go ahead there must be a wider discussion on the potential chaos the traffic disruption will cause on the Baldoyle Road and the Strand Road once the shuttle begins.”

“For those going to college or work in the city, will the ybe satisfied that they will be able to get there on time and will they be able to board a DART at Howth Junction?” Do we need to increase the frequency of buses?”

She noted that tourism is a major part of Howth’s domestic economy and questioned if visitors would be willing to make a “split” journey should the plan be implemented.

Minister for Transport Éamon Ryan TD said Iarnród Éireann’s lodgement of a railway order application further cements the government’s commitment to develop a high-quality, sustainable public transport system in Ireland, providing more and more people with access to a far better alternative to sitting in traffic.”

 “This project will mean that we can almost double capacity at peak time, giving communities a quality, more frequent train service between Dublin and Drogheda, while supporting our decarbonisation goals.”

“What makes this project even better is that passengers on the line between Dublin city and Drogheda will start to see welcome benefits by 2026 through the entry into service of brand-new battery-electric DART trains, providing a pathway to the full electrification of the line”.

 Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade said the plan will make travelling “more sustainable, more frequent and more reliable.”

“This is the third DART+ project to submit a railway order. The DART+ programme, when delivered, will truly revolutionise commuting in the Greater Dublin Area and assist in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets by reducing reliance on the private car and providing sustainable high frequency, high-capacity transport.”

Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority said “when we invest in transport infrastructure, we are investing in the future of Irish communities and their ability to access dependable, sustainable public transport alternatives.”

The railway order application website www.dartcoastalnorthrailwayorder.ie went live on July 19, and features all of the documentation.

The website also gives details of how to obtain hard and soft copies of all or some aspects of the documentation. 

Members of the public, prescribed bodies and directly impacted landowners and occupiers are welcome to make submissions from 19th July to 20th September, at a cost of €50. 

“Subject to planning permission and funding arrangements, construction works on the route could commence later this decade, taking circa three years to complete,” a statement from Irish Rail read.