Project Specific FAQs

The preliminary design process for DART+ Coastal North has established that 8 new electrical substations will be required at key locations along the rail line between Malahide and Drogheda to provide power to the network. 

The proposed substation locations are identified within the Schematic Layout Drawings in Annex 1 of the PC2 Supporting Documents, available through the project website www.dartplus.ie. The proposed substation locations along the line include:
-    Drogheda
-    Bettystown
-    Gormanston
-    Balbriggan
-    Skerries North
-    Skerries South
-    Rush and Lusk
-    Donabate

If your property is likely to be directly affected by the works you should already have heard from us. Our Community Liaison Officer will be available throughout the process to ensure you are regularly updated on the current proposals and your views are taken into consideration as we progress the design. 

Some access to third party lands will be required. Should this be required formal contact will be made with the relevant landowner and permission will be sought for access. 

If your property is likely to be directly affected by the works you should already have heard from us. Our Community Liaison Officer will be available throughout the process to ensure you are regularly updated on the current proposals and your views are taken into consideration as we progress the design. 

A noise assessment report will be undertaken as part of the EIA, and if deemed necessary, the design may include noise mitigation measures, e.g. natural screening, noise fences/barriers and landscaping.

Potential construction impacts from limited interventions will likely be minimal given that the line between Connolly and Howth is already electrified. Some site-specific interventions will be required between Howth Junction & Donaghmede and Drogheda stations, associated with increasing the rail capacity. Between Malahide and Drogheda, DART+ Coastal North will involve the erection of overhead line infrastructure to facilitate the running of electric trains. In order to maintain services for our customers during the day, the majority of the construction works along the railway line itself will take place at night. Works outside of the live railway corridor can progress during the day i.e. modifications to bridges, construction of substations, construction compounds. Every effort will be made to avoid, reduce, and/or mitigate negative impacts through the construction and operational phases.

As well as Iarnród Éireann being committed to this project, it is provided for in the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The project will go ahead subject to receipt of funding, granting of the Railway Order approval from An Bord Pleanála and approval of the Project Business Case by Government. 

No, the project does not depend on any other project in order to advance. The project will link Iarnród Éireann, DART, Dublin Bus, Luas, MetroLink and Dublin Bike services to create a fully integrated public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area. The project team is working closely with the relevant agencies in order to ensure that all current and planned projects can be developed with all due consideration of each other. 

In general, the track layout along the route will remain predominantly unaltered, therefore trains will be no closer to property boundaries than at present. Track modifications are proposed at specific locations such as Drogheda MacBride, Malahide, Clongriffin and Howth Junction & Donaghmede stations. These required works are currently expected to remain within the extents of the existing railway corridor.  

The OHLE infrastructure will follow the alignment of the existing and modified tracks, remaining within the extents of the railway corridor.  

The locations of proposed modifications to the existing railway infrastructure, and locations of substations and construction compounds are included in the DART+ Coastal North Brochure and Option Selection - Preferred Option Report and Schematic Layouts available through the project website www.dartplus.ie

If your property is likely to be directly affected by the works you should already have heard from us. Our Community Liaison Officer will be available throughout the process to ensure you are regularly updated on the current proposals and your views are taken into consideration as we progress the design.