'This is happening': Work on Dart+ West scheme to begin this weekend

At Dunboyne Station in Co Meath were, from left, minister of state at the Department of the Taoiseach Thomas Byrne; infrastructure minister Jack Chambers; cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Sarah Reilly; transport minister Darragh O'Brien; and further and higher education minister James Lawless. Picture: Paul Sharp 

The first works to enable the new Dart+ West scheme will begin this weekend, with the transport minister saying the next six to eight years will "transform" rail services in Ireland.

Some 120 Iarnród Éireann staff will be engaged in the work across the weekend. It will see track lowering works at two bridges between Hansfield and M3 Parkway in the west of Dublin to facilitate future electrification.

Dart+ West is designed to double train services along the Maynooth line from six to 12 an hour in each direction, increasing hourly passenger capacity from 5,000 to more than 13,000 each way.

The works will involve the removal of existing track formation, with excavation works then taking place to lower the track level. The overheard power lines required to operate the DART+ fleet will then be installed later without the need to modify the height of the existing road bridges over the railway.

Speaking at Dunboyne station in Co Meath on Wednesday, Darragh O'Brien said the electrification of the rail network across the capital and the building of the Cork Commuter Rail, as well as the Luas extension in Dublin and the line in Cork would see disruption, but would overhaul rail travel.

Mr O'Brien said he "cannot understate" the importance of the commencement of the works this weekend, as it marks physical work on a project which has "been discussed for a number of years".

"What we're looking at here is an expansion of Dart capacity over the coming five, six, seven years. We will see changes and improvements in capacity from next year with some of the resignalling work that's been done as well with the new trains, which are fully accessible, which improves capacity as well.

We have been dealing with an infrastructural deficit, but we're investing like we have never done before in public transport.

In the briefing note for Mr O'Brien when he took office, officials said the expansion "will increase the network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours" and will "create a connected and electrified rail network for the Greater Dublin Area".

On Wednesday, the minister said the works would be done in the next six to 10 years.

"You're looking at a 50km of new Dart track, doubling capacity, but you're looking at a build-out period of between between six, eight, 10 years, depending on which sections. That will all be detailed when we're putting forward the memo to Cabinet in the coming weeks to get approval. We have planning permission for most of this as well.

"But we're good to go, and this is happening. There's no reversing on this now."