AtkinsRéalis has been appointed by Iarnród Eireann (Irish Rail) as multi-disciplinary consultant to provide design services for the DART+ West and South West rail improvement projects.
DART+ West and South West are part of Irish Rail’s flagship DART+ Programme, which will greatly improve public transport in the Greater Dublin Area by expanding the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) commuter rail network to new and existing communities. Both projects will deliver newly electrified trains and more frequent services, with DART+ West more than doubling passenger capacity and DART+ South West quadrupling capacity.
AtkinsRéalis has been appointed to Phase 5a of both projects, which involves reviewing previous designs and preparing contract documents to enable procurement of contractors in the next phase. AtkinsRéalis has previously delivered multi-disciplinary services for DART+ South West through to Railway Order.
“Our appointment to this stage of DART+ West and South West presents an opportunity to lay critical foundations for an expansion programme which will revolutionise public transport in the Greater Dublin Area. We will leverage our global expertise and strong track record of delivering projects throughout Ireland to ensure this transformative project boosts regional connectivity through reliable, frequent and integrated public transport,” Tony Mortimer, AtkinsRéalis Highways and Transportation Director – Ireland, said.
“The DART+ Programme is the largest and most ambitious project we have undertaken since the original construction of the network. Progressing DART+ West and South West through this phase is an important step towards better connecting our communities with high-quality and sustainable public transport. This expansion project will reduce road congestion and cut carbon emissions, cementing Ireland’s commitment to a Net Zero future in line with the National Planning Framework and Climate Action Plan,” said Colm Reynolds, Irish Rail Programme Director Dart+.
Covering approximately 40 km of track, DART+ West will serve existing stations along the railway corridor between Maynooth Station and M3 Parkway Station to Connolly Station and to the proposed Spencer Dock Station. It will double the frequency of trains to 12 per hour per direction and increase passenger capacity from 5,000 to 13,200.
DART+ South West will optimise the existing railway between Hazelhatch & Celbridge Station to Heuston Station (approximately 16km), and also from Heuston Station to Glasnevin, via the Phoenix Park Tunnel Branch Line (approximately 4km). It will increase capacity from 12 to 23 trains per hour and passenger capacity from 5,000 to 20,000.
AtkinsRéalis has a proven track record of delivering similarly complex rail projects for clients in Ireland and across the world. The company was appointed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to deliver the detailed design for the Advance Works programme for the MetroLink Project and more recently, AtkinsRéalis was appointed by Irish Rail to develop feasibility studies for three possible new stations around Ireland, and to propose infrastructure improvements to increase capacity on the Limerick to Ennis Lines.
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