Steddenm
Member
The DART+ Programme will revolutionise travel in the Greater Dublin Area. It will see the DART network grow from its current 50km in length to over 150km. Bringing DART travel with all its benefits to new and existing communities.
It will promote multi modal transit, active transport, boost regional connectivity and make public transport the preferred option for more and more people. The DART+ Programme will deliver frequent, modern, electrified services within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and will improve connectivity to Regional towns and cities.
The DART+ Programme will involve rail improvements from:
Image shows concept design of new DART carriages.
1. Toilets – there are no toilets fitted to these vehicles in line with existing DART fleet. Interiors are designed for passenger capacity.
2. Bike capacity – There are 4 bicycle spaces per train with 2 spaces in each front & end vehicle. Charging for e-bicycles is also provided.
3. Fuel type – The fleet is electrically powered from an overhead line. In addition 13 of the 19 trains also have battery storage enabling normal operation on lines beyond the overhead line system e.g. Dublin Connolly to Drogheda.
A further order or additional BEMU carriages has been announced for services in the Cork-Cobh commuter belt which will include electrification of the line. These carriages will be the same as the DART+ services.
Image shows a map of Cork commuter services from Irish Rail.
The new carriages will allow a ten minute frequency between Cork, Mallow, Cobh and Middleton with a 5 minute frequency between Cork and Glounthaune. The new BEMUs will be serviced at a new depot in Cobh.
The current InterCity units are also being lengthened from 4 car to 5 and from 5 car to 6 on selected routes.
Irish Rail also said today on Virgin Media One's Ireland:AM that the Enterprise and Mk5 sets which operate between Dublin and Belfast, and Dublin and Cork respectively may be replaced in the future to new tri-mode seven car units, "like they've got in the UK" and are looking at the Class 80x project.
Main sources: https://www.dartplus.ie/en-ie/about-dart
Virgin Media Television Ireland's Ireland:am programme (available to watch on the Virgin Media Player - Ireland only)
It will promote multi modal transit, active transport, boost regional connectivity and make public transport the preferred option for more and more people. The DART+ Programme will deliver frequent, modern, electrified services within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and will improve connectivity to Regional towns and cities.
The DART+ Programme will involve rail improvements from:
- DART+ West - Maynooth and M3 Parkway to the City Centre
- DART+ South West - Hazelhatch & Celbridge to the City Centre
- DART+ Coastal North - Drogheda to the City Centre
- DART+ Coastal South - Greystones to the City Centre
- DART+ Fleet - purchase of new a train fleet to increase train services.
Image shows concept design of new DART carriages.
New DART Fleet
The new DART fleet order placed in December 2021 with Alstom Transport is for 19 x 5 car trains. The main contract is for 10 years allowing up to 750 cars to be purchased on a call off basis and this first call off order is for 95 vehicles. They will begin to enter passenger service from mid-2025 onwards.1. Toilets – there are no toilets fitted to these vehicles in line with existing DART fleet. Interiors are designed for passenger capacity.
2. Bike capacity – There are 4 bicycle spaces per train with 2 spaces in each front & end vehicle. Charging for e-bicycles is also provided.
3. Fuel type – The fleet is electrically powered from an overhead line. In addition 13 of the 19 trains also have battery storage enabling normal operation on lines beyond the overhead line system e.g. Dublin Connolly to Drogheda.
A further order or additional BEMU carriages has been announced for services in the Cork-Cobh commuter belt which will include electrification of the line. These carriages will be the same as the DART+ services.
Image shows a map of Cork commuter services from Irish Rail.
The new carriages will allow a ten minute frequency between Cork, Mallow, Cobh and Middleton with a 5 minute frequency between Cork and Glounthaune. The new BEMUs will be serviced at a new depot in Cobh.
The current InterCity units are also being lengthened from 4 car to 5 and from 5 car to 6 on selected routes.
Irish Rail also said today on Virgin Media One's Ireland:AM that the Enterprise and Mk5 sets which operate between Dublin and Belfast, and Dublin and Cork respectively may be replaced in the future to new tri-mode seven car units, "like they've got in the UK" and are looking at the Class 80x project.
Main sources: https://www.dartplus.ie/en-ie/about-dart
Virgin Media Television Ireland's Ireland:am programme (available to watch on the Virgin Media Player - Ireland only)
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