Ireland has received a huge boost as a €1 billion project (nearly £860 million) that will treble the current network has been given the green light.
Ireland is focusing on improving transportation links and building better roads and highways. The Dart+ Programme aims to enhance Dublin’s Area Rapid Transit (DART) network, increasing capacity and connectivity across the Greater Dublin Area.
The DART network is set to grow from its current 53km in length to over 150km, doubling train services along the Maynooth line from six to 12 per hour per direction, increasing hourly passenger capacity from 5,000 to more than 13,000 each way.
The DART+ Programme will deliver frequent, modern, electrified services within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and will improve connectivity to Regional towns and cities.
Once completed it is anticipated that the number of people living within one kilometre of a Dart station will increase from about 250,000 currently to 600,000.
In February 2018, the Irish government and National Transport Authority announced a 10-year plan to electrify the lines to Drogheda, Maynooth, Hazelhatch, M3 Parkway and Docklands.
The proposed project, which had previously been referred to as DART Expansion, was renamed DART+ in 2020.
Currently the Dart serves 31 stations and carries around 20 million passengers per year along an electrified railway – the only electric mainline railway in Ireland.
The DART system was established by Córas Iompair Éireann in 1984 to replace an ageing fleet of diesel-powered locomotives. Since 1987, the service is operated by Iarnród Éireann, Ireland’s national rail operator.
Ireland is currently undergoing a substantial increase in infrastructure and rail projects as the country continues to experience economic growth and urbanisation. In 2023, travel and tourism contributed 19.3 billion euros to Ireland’s GDP, which was 17.7% higher than in 2019.