Dart extension to Louth approved

There's good news for Louth commuters as An Coimisiún Pleanála have approved the Railway Order application for DART+ Coastal North, which will extend the electrified DART network from Malahide to Drogheda. 

Funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority, under Project Ireland 2040, the project will significantly increase the peak hourly capacity and frequency on the Northern route between Dublin city and Malahide, Howth and Drogheda.

The section between Malahide and Drogheda (as part of the service between Dublin city and Drogheda) will nearly double capacity from about 4,800 to 8,800 passengers at peak hour/direction when complete. This increase in services will be subject to demand and will be part of a separate timetable consultation process in conjunction with the NTA.

The planned infrastructure improvements as part of DART+ Coastal North include:

• 37km of electrification and re-signalling of the railway line between Malahide and Drogheda MacBride Stations.
• Reconstruction of the existing track layout and associated infrastructure in the vicinity of Drogheda MacBride, Malahide, Clongriffin and Howth Junction & Donaghmede Stations; including a new platform at Drogheda MacBride Station, and infrastructure to enable operational flexibility for both direct Howth to city and Howth to Howth Junction DART shuttle services as required.
• All civil, bridge and ancillary works as necessary to accommodate the project.
• Improvement of Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station.
• Modification to Fairview and Drogheda train Depots to support the new train fleet.
• Reconfiguration of track layout north of Malahide to provide a train turnback facility that does not move rail operations nearer to adjacent residences.

The procurement process will now commence for a design and build contractors. Once the contractors has been appointed, a period of detailed design will commence followed by construction. Subject to funding being allocated it is anticipated that construction will be in the region of three years.

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade said: “Today is a great day for the communities of North Dublin and Louth. The provision of DART services will transform commuting for the existing and new communities along this railway corridor. It will make travelling with us more sustainable, more frequent and more reliable. This is the third DART+ project to receive planning. DART+ West Railway Order was granted in July 2024 and DART+ South West was granted In November 2024.   Work is underway on preliminary design for DART+ Coastal South and for DART+ Depot. The DART+ programme, when delivered will truly revolutionise commuting in the Greater Dublin Area and assist in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets by reducing reliance on the private car and providing sustainable high frequency, high capacity transport.”

Hugh Creegan from the National Transport Authority said: "This approval of DART+ Coastal North is a significant milestone in the transformation of rail services in the Greater Dublin Area and for the communities across North Dublin, East Meath, and Louth. This is more than about infrastructure. It is about connecting growing communities with sustainable, frequent and reliable transport that supports local development and helps reduce car dependency. Reaching this milestone marks an important step in delivering a better-connected public transport for the region."

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Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said: “I welcome today’s planning decision in relation to DART+ Coastal North, which enables overhead electric wires to be extended from Malahide to Drogheda. This will facilitate a significant improvement in train capacity and frequency on the Northern commuter line, following project procurement and construction. In the meantime, I look forward to the launch of the sustainable new DART+ battery-electric train fleet, which is currently undergoing testing and which will be initially deployed on the Northern line between Dublin and Drogheda when operational. This roll-out of new DART trains to Drogheda will provide a noticeable boost to commuters along the route.”