Project Specific FAQs

The primary objective of the DART+ Coastal South project is to deliver the necessary infrastructure enhancements that will enable increased train frequency and capacity between Dublin City Centre and Greystones. The proposals will not prevent a direct Rosslare Service running through to Dublin City Centre. Any operational decisions relating to services operating on the Southern Line will be made at a later stage, separately to the delivery of DART+ Coastal South, and are subject to future passenger demand and train frequency on the Southern Line. Currently the proposals of Stage 1 of DART+ Coastal South are not expected to negatively impact on the Rosslare Intercity Services.

Stage 1 of DART+ Coastal South will seek to deliver the infrastructure enhancements that will enable an increase in train frequency from 2 trains per hour to 3 trains per hour between Bray and Greystones.
The proposed interventions include:

• Railway Infrastructure modifications to facilitate the proposed increase in service, from two to three trains per hour, between Bray (Daly) and Greystones Stations.
• Construction of an additional crossover (track modifications to allow a train to cross from one section of track to another) just south of Bray (Daly) Station and associated modifications to reduce the length of Platform 1 at Bray (Daly) Station to 180m. These works will extend the length of double track within the station and allow trains to cross from one track to the other.
• Proposed upgrade of Level crossing XR012 (Ennis Lane Level Crossing) at Rathdown Road to a CCTV controlled crossing to improve safety for users. Existing access across the railway will be maintained. 
• Undertaking upgrades to existing signalling, telecoms and power supplies to support the planned increase in train services.
• Additional civil, drainage and power works as necessary to accommodate the project.

Accessibility is an important aspect of the design of the DART+ Programme. Where new interventions are made as part of the DART+ Programme, Iarnród Éireann will ensure that these are fully accessible and compliant with Part M of the Building Regulations. Furthermore, Iarnród Éireann will continue its rollout of the Accessibility Programme under other funded projects. Together, DART+ Programme and the Accessibility Programme will improve access to persons with reduced or impaired mobility and other passengers with sensory impairments.

Changes to existing services between Dublin Connolly and Bray (Daly) Station are expected to be minimal as a result of the Stage 1 works of DART+ Coastal South. However, Stage 2 of DART+ Coastal South will seek to deliver the infrastructure enhancements that will enable an increase in train frequency from 6 trains per hour to 12 trains per hour between Dublin Connolly and Bray Daly Stations.

Proposed interventions required as part of Stage 2 works will be developed in future, separately to the Stage 1 (Bray to Greystones Capacity Enhancements) works, and will seek to address the existing constraints on capacity on the Southern Line between Dublin City Centre and Bray.

The current scope for DART+ Coastal South does not provide for the extension of DART services beyond Greystones. This would require significant additional funding and is not included in Project Ireland 2040. 

The Wicklow Capacity Enhancement project is a separate project being progressed by Iarnród Éireann that proposes to extend one DART service per hour to Wicklow using battery powered DARTs. That project is at Preliminary Design stage and the proposed interventions being progressed by DART+ Coastal South will not impact on the viability of the Wicklow Capacity Enhancement project, and both projects can be progressed independently of each other.

Level crossing XR012 (Ennis Lane Level Crossing) is situated to the north of Greystones Station, at the eastern extents of Rathdown Road. The crossing provides pedestrian, cyclist and persons of reduced mobility access to amenities east of the railway line, as well as vehicular access to farmland located between the railway corridor and the sea. The level crossing is typically locked and is not accessible by public vehicles. The vehicle crossing can currently be operated manually by either Iarnród Éireann or the landowner to the east of the railway corridor for necessary access. While the crossing is open for pedestrian, cyclist and persons of reduced mobility access it is typically locked and not accessible for public vehicles.

The Emerging Preferred Option (EPO) proposes that level crossing XR012 (Ennis Lane Level Crossing) will be upgraded to a CCTV Controlled crossing with existing access for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles maintained. This is primarily for safety reasons, resulting from the increased frequency of trains enabled by DART+ Coastal South.