An Bord Pleanála approves DART+ South West Railway Order

An Bord Pleanála have approved the Railway Order application to extend the electrified DART network from Hazelhatch and Celbridge to Heuston Station and the South city via Phoenix Park Tunnel. The application was lodged in March 2023 and approved in November 2024. We are proud to be providing multidisciplinary consultancy services on the project, including planning, environmental and project communications, acting as Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PDSP) and coordinating the Railway Order application.

DART+ South West will provide a greatly enhanced and more sustainable transport option for communities in Hazelhatch and Celbridge, Adamstown, Clondalkin and Fonthill, Parkwest and Cherry Orchard, Drumcondra and at a new station at Heuston West. This will be achieved through infrastructure works resulting in higher frequencies and electrification, and new trains, to increase passenger capacity from the current 5,000 to 20,000 per hour per direction.

The DART+ Programme is a key element of the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, 2022-2042. DART+ will facilitate sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in our capital and its surrounding counties, through a series of fleet and infrastructure projects. The DART+ Programme is being delivered by Iarnród Éireann on behalf of NTA.

The planned infrastructure improvements include:

•  20km of electrification and re-signalling of the Hazelhatch & Celbridge Line to Heuston and the south city via Phoenix Park Tunnel.
• Construction of a new station at Heuston West to serve the community of Clancy Quay and Island Bridge.
• Four-tracking of the rail line from Park West & Cherry Orchard Station to Heuston to enhance capacity.
•  All civil, bridge and ancillary works as necessary to accommodate the project.
• Upgrading of the Phoenix Park Tunnel.

New electric DART carriages for the DART+ Programme will be deployed on Hazelhatch and Celbridge services. The procurement process will now commence for the construction stage contracts. Subject to funding allocation, it is anticipated that construction will commence in 2026.