Unit No. 8108 passes White Rock at Dalkey on July 28 last year. The Dublin to Greystones route Is to be rebranded DART+ Coastal South.
JAY MONAGHAN
IARNROD Eireann-lrish Rail and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have unveiled plans for a €2.6billion extension of electrified DART services from the centre of Dublin to Drogheda, Celbridge and Maynooth.
The scheme has been branded DART+ and aims to double peakhour commuter capacity from the current 26,000 passengers per hour in each direction, to 52,000 an hour by 2028.
Electrification of the three routes will come with the provision of a fleet of new trains, while the current DART route from Connolly to Greystones will also be upgraded and rebranded as DART+ Coastal South.
The Maynooth line will be first of the three lines to be upgraded, with public consultation starting in late August. Dubbed DART+ West, the scheme will involve the electrification and resignalling of about 40km of the Sligo line as far as Maynooth/M3 Parkway, together with capacity enhancements at Connolly station to facilitate increased train numbers.