Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The DART+ programme is a key programme of projects which will significantly expand the DART train service across the greater Dublin area. The programme comprises the DART+ fleet project, as well as various infrastructure projects. The NTA, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, is progressing these projects which are at various stages of planning and development.

In December 2021, following Government approval, a major fleet procurement framework was awarded to Alstom for the manufacture and delivery of up to 750 new rail carriages over ten years. At this time, as part of the new framework the first order of new DART carriages was made, comprising 65 battery electric and 30 electric train carriages. In November 2022, the Government approved a second purchase of rail fleet under the framework, which will see 90 additional battery electric trains arrive in the coming years.

These 185 carriages are now being manufactured. The first of the new trains are due to arrive later this year for testing and commissioning before deployment. The 30 electric carriages will be used, at least initially, to augment existing DART train services along the coast. The first batch of 65 battery electric train carriages are expected to enter service on the Dublin to Drogheda line in late 2025 or early 2026. To enable the roll-out of these DART trains to Drogheda, new battery electric charging infrastructure is being developed at Drogheda station. This will allow DART trains to operate on battery power between Malahide and Drogheda, in advance of the extension of overhead electric wires in future. The remaining carriages will facilitate the roll-out of other DART services to Maynooth, the M3 Parkway and Celbridge in the years ahead and possibly beyond.

Funding has been provided to carry out a feasibility study on extending the DART to Wicklow town. It is being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann, with the potential for the new service to be in place by 2026. Similar to the Dart extension to Drogheda, this could be achieved using battery power in advance of overhead electric wires being installed. I look forward to the roll-out of the new DART services across the greater Dublin area in the coming years, helping people to travel in and out of the city conveniently and sustainably by public transport.

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