Land acquisition as part of DART+ South West Project gets underway

The formal land acquisition process for the 750 directly impacted landowners along the DART+ South West route has commenced.

Landowners have been written to today and have been issued with what is known as a Notice to Treat.  The Notice to Treat is a statutory step that formally initiates the land purchase process and confirms CIÉ’s intention to acquire certain property interests identified in the Railway Order that are needed to deliver the project.

Funded by the National Transport Authority, under Project Ireland 2040 and the EU Structural Development fund, the DART+ South West will provide a greatly enhanced and more sustainable transport option for communities in Hazelhatch & Celbridge, Adamstown, Clondalkin & Fonthill, Parkwest & Cherry Orchard, a new station at Heuston West and Drumcondra.  This will be achieved through infrastructure works resulting in higher frequencies and electrification, and new trains, to increase passenger capacity from the current 5,000 to 20,000 per hour per direction.

The planned infrastructure improvements include:

• 20km of electrification and re-signalling of the Hazelhatch & Celbridge Line to Heuston and the south city via Phoenix Park Tunnel.
• Construction of a new station at Heuston West to serve the community of Clancy Quay and Island Bridge and act as interchange for those wishing to access Heuston station from Western Suburbs
• Four-tracking of the rail line from Park West & Cherry Orchard Station to Heuston to enhance capacity.
• All civil, bridge and ancillary works as necessary to accommodate the project.
• Upgrading of the Phoenix Park Tunnel.
• New electric DART carriages for the DART+ Programme will be deployed on Hazelhatch & Celbridge services.

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said:

Today marks the commencement of the formal process to begin works on DART+ South West project. Although phasing for funding for the project is still under discussion, land acquisition must commence to complete the compulsory purchase orders within the statutorily allotted time within the railway order, which is 18 months from when the Railway Order received its approval. The provision of DART services will transform commuting for the existing and new communities along this railway corridor. It will also have significant benefits for Intercity customers, as the project includes the completion of the four track section of the route between Hazelhatch & Celbridge and Heuston, which will deliver greater segregation of Intercity and DART+/Commuter services, leading to journey time improvements and greater operationally flexibility at Heuston”

Eoin Gillard, Assistant Director, Transport Investment at National Transport Authority added:

“DART+ South West will deliver substantial benefits for passengers through increased capacity, more frequent services and improved reliability on a key commuter corridor. The commencement of the land acquisition process represents an important step in progressing the infrastructure required to deliver these outcomes, including electrification and service enhancements. These improvements will make a real difference to the quality of journeys for thousands of people who rely on this line every day.”

Minster for Transport, Darragh O’Brien said: Minster for Transport, Darragh O’Brien said:

“The DART+ Programme is a priority for Government, tripling the electrification and doubling the capacity of the rail network in and out of Dublin city, benefiting people across the Greater Dublin Area and beyond.

I am happy to see the DART+ South West project progressing. The acquisition of land is a crucial step in working towards the delivery of DART+ South West, which will help provide a significant uplift in services along the rail line from Hazelhatch and Celbridge to Heuston Station and will also provide access to key strategic housing development such as at Adamstown. I also look forward to the progression of the procurement for this project, with frameworks to be established under DART+ West later this year, supporting the delivery of DART+ South West.”