Project Specific FAQs

Environmental surveys and ground investigations are required to be undertaken to inform the environmental assessment and design process. Where access to private lands is required, contact will be made in advance to seek permission. 

Should you have any queries or concerns regarding these surveys please contact Garry Keegan who is the Community Liaison Officer for this Project at 086-2358913 or by email at dartplusdepot@irishrail.ie. 

Railway Order application is broadly similar to the planning application process. The project is categorised as Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and Iarnród Éireann applies directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála for permission. The Railway Order application process is set out in the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 as amended by the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006. 

Following this public consultation, the proposed project plans will be finalised, incorporating feedback received during the consultation phase where appropriate and the project will submit a draft Railway Order application. 

Following submission of the Railway Order Application, An Coimisiún Pleanála will conduct a statutory consultation where  Any person or body may make a submission or observation in writing to An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to the application and / or the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. 

The Railway Order application will include a number of technical documents and project drawings and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report. All of these documents and drawings together with any feedback/submissions received from the public as part of the statutory public consultation process will be reviewed and considered by An Coimisiún Pleanála before a decision on the application is made.  

It is anticipated that An Coimisiún Pleanála will conduct an Oral Hearing before they make a decision on the DART+ Depot project. At an Oral Hearing the authors of relevant reports and experts will give qualified responses on the submissions received and will be available for questioning.  

Further information on making a submission / observation in writing to An Coimisiún Pleanála and Oral Hearing procedures are available from the Commission’s website www.pleanala.ie.

We will endeavour to maintain weekday passenger services during the construction phase as much as possible. However, there may be a requirement for short periods of service disruption. Where such works occur, if they are of short duration, we will endeavour to limit these disruptions to weekends and off-peak times as much as possible. 

It is envisaged that the reconstruction of Allen Bridge may need total closure of the railway beyond a short weekend disruption. That will have an impact on the trains travelling West towards Endfield. Alternative transport will be provided when that occurs. 

The public will be advised in advance of any planned disruptions to services and alternative services/connections that will be provided. Details of the likely phasing and any potential disruptions to services will be identified as the project progresses.  

The extension of the DART+ services to Kilcock will increase the frequency in services on a phased basis. It is expected that, during the morning and evening peak, DART+ Depot will provide the infrastructure to support up to a six trains per hour per direction from Kilcock towards Dublin in the future. Kilcock Station will be upgraded and served by new, more accessible DART carriages. The project will deliver a fully electrified rail line to Kilcock supporting a more sustainable transport future. The journey time from Kilcock to Dublin will be similar to today’s travel time. New trains will be deployed and the operational pattern is for all DART+ trains to stop at all stations more frequently.  

Subject to the Railway Order being successfully granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála it is expected that construction work will commence in 2028 and will be completed/operational in 2031. 

As part of the DART+ Programme, a fleet of new DART carriages has been procured, the first of which are currently in their testing and commissioning phase and expected to enter service in 2027. The new fleet will include up to 750 carriages. The maintenance and stabling requirements for this new fleet means a new depot facility is needed.  

The DART+ Depot project will facilitate the delivery of the depot and associated infrastructure. The proposed depot will comprise a depot building, maintenance shed, offices, an automatic train wash, an automatic vehicle inspection unit, service facilities, and other maintenance facilities. It will include a test track, stabling for trains, an electrical substation, a security building and car and bicycle parking.