Iarnród Éireann has appointed Arup to provide multidisciplinary engineering services to upgrade the DART+ Coastal route in Dublin from Drogheda in the north to Greystones in the south (approx. 86 km).
Arup will create a design for the electrification extension and associated works, along with the design of modifications on the existing DART line to provide for the required increase in service levels, will develop traffic management and infrastructure plans to facilitate continued vehicular pedestrian and cyclist across to areas adjacent to the existing DART line.
If the Railway Order will be approved, which includes extensive public consultation, the construction on DART+ Coastal is expected to start from the beginning of 2024 with works scheduled for completion in 2027.
The project is part of the DART+ Programme, funded by the National Transport Authority under Project Ireland 2040.
The improvement of Coastal lines includes the electrification of 37 km from Malahide to Drogheda, modifications to the existing depots at Drogheda and Fairview to support the new fleet.
The project also covers infrastructure upgrade from Drogheda to Greystones which includes the modernisation of junctions and station turn-back facilities, modifications to bridges and structures, provision of train stabling, the upgrade of signalling, telecoms and power supplies systems and level crossings removal between the city centre and Merrion Gates which will reduce the constraints on both rail and road traffic.
The passengers will benefit easier travel opportunities, improved journey time reliability and will be encouraged to make sustainable travel choices by giving up to private cars and use efficient and safer public transport network.
DART+ Coastal route will see the extension of electrification of the line from Malahide to Drogheda, and improvements along the existing DART line from Malahide/Howth to Greystones to increase passenger capacity along the Eastern Commuter Corridor from 17,980 to 26,680 per hour each way, an increase of almost 50 per cent.
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