Project Specific FAQs

The Railway Order application is essentially an application seeking statutory consent (planning permission and acquisition of land) for the DART+ Coastal North railway infrastructure. The project is categorised as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and Iarnród Éireann applies directly to An Bord 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 the proposed two phases of non-statutory public consultation, Iarnród Éireann will submit the Railway Order application. Any person or body may make a submission or observation in writing to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the application. The Railway Order application will include a number of technical documents and project drawings as well as an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Appropriate Assessment documentation (AA screening / Natura Impact Statement (NIS)). All 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 Bord Pleanála before a decision on the application is made. We expect that An Bord Pleanála will conduct an Oral Hearing before a decision is made. At an Oral Hearing the authors of relevant reports and experts will give evidence on the submissions received and will be available for questioning. Further information on making a submission / observation in writing to the Board and Oral Hearing procedures are available from the An Bord Pleanála website.

The primary objective of the DART+ Coastal North project is to deliver the infrastructure to enable increased train frequency and capacity between Drogheda and Howth and Dublin City Centre. 

To support this objective, the project is proposing infrastructure that would enable the operation of both a DART shuttle service on the Howth Branch line as required, and/or a direct through service to/from Dublin City Centre, allowing for the capacity and frequency of DART+ services on both the Northern, and Howth Branch, lines to be maximised. This proposal has been developed to remove the crossing conflicts currently experienced at Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station which limit the frequency and capacity that can be achieved on the Northern Line. The proposed infrastructure will not prevent a direct service running on the Howth Branch. 

Final operational decisions will be made at a later stage and are subject to passenger demand and train frequency on the Northern Line and Howth Branch.

The scale of increase in services will vary across the extents of DART+ Coastal North and will be directly dependent on passenger demand over time. However, to provide the maximum  level of service envisaged by the project, the following increase in services is currently expected to be delivered by the DART+ Coastal North project across the duration of 3-hour peak AM peak period for inbound / southbound services to Dublin City Centre:

• Drogheda to Malahide: 11 to 24 trains
• Malahide to Clongriffin: 20 to 30 trains
• Clongriffin to Howth Junction & Donaghmede: 20 to 36 trains
• Howth Branch: 9 to 18 trains
• Howth Junction & Donaghmede to Connolly: 29 to 36 trains

This overall increase is inclusive of DART, Commuter and Enterprise services. The AM and PM peak periods will be extended from 1 hour to 3 hour periods (i.e. 7-10 AM and 4-7 PM).

It is important to note that the proposed increases in services are not something that will come into effect immediately upon the delivery of the DART+ Coastal North project. There will be different phases of timetable development that will be gradually introduced as the project builds towards that maximum level of service. The operational detail behind each of these phases has not been worked through at this stage in the project planning and development. Any substantial timetable change will go through a Public Consultation process of its own organised by the NTA known as the Timetable Customer Consultation Process where members of the public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed changes.

As a direct result of feedback received during Public Consultation No, 1 in addition to further project consideration and requirements, significant upgrades to Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station are now proposed to provide a more accessible, user friendly and customer focused station for all rail users. Full details of the proposed plans are shared in the Public Consultation No. 2 project documentation.

The proposed works will involve modifying the entrances to provide a more accessible, user friendly and customer focused station for all rail users, as well as improving the connection to the surrounding areas of Donaghmede and Kilbarrack. Upgrades to the existing footbridge and connections to the centre platforms will also be carried out, as well as upgrades to lighting, signage, and finishes throughout.

Customer experience, accessibility, safety, and security will be central to the development of Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station, and we also acknowledge the feedback we have been given to date about this station experience and its current facilities. These concerns are something the DART+ Coastal North project is taking very seriously, and the project team is looking at what solutions can be provided for in both the long and short term. 
 

The commencement of construction is contingent on the timely securing of the Railway Order. DART+ Coastal North remains in the later stages of the concept phase; this will be followed by the preliminary design phase and statutory planning approval phases. When the necessary permissions have been granted, the detailed design and procurement phases will be undertaken. Pending further approvals, the contract award for the construction phase is anticipated to be in 2025/26.

The delivery of new stations is not included as part of the DART+ Coastal North project and will be progressed by Iarnród Éireann as separate projects. The ‘Preferred Option’ will not preclude any future development of any potential new stations, such as that proposed at Bettystown in the East Meath Local Area Plan, along the Northern Line. As a direct result of feedback received during Public Consultation No. 1, the DART+ Coastal North project will now deliver some signifcant station enhancements at Howth Junction & Donaghmede Station. These significant modification works are proposed to both improve the passenger experience generally, and to develop the station to better serve as an interchange station. The works will involve modifying the entrances to provide a more accessible, user friendly and customer focused station for all rail users, as well as improve the connection to the surrounding areas of Donaghmede and Kilbarrack. Upgrades will also take place to the footbridge and connections to the centre platforms, as well as the lighting, signage, and finishes throughout.