Frequently Asked Questions

DART+ Coastal South

A wide range of surveys are required as part of the DART+ Coastal South project. These include, but are not limited to, Topographical Surveys, Ecological and other environmental Surveys, Ground Investigation Surveys.

Some access to third party lands will be required in order to complete these surveys. Should access be required then formal contact will be made with the relevant landowner and permission will be sought for access.

Should you have any queries or concerns regarding these surveys please contact the Community Liaison Officer for this Project at (+353) 86 235 8913 or by email at DARTCoastalSouth@irishrail.ie.

In the first instance, the design process will make every effort to ensure that negative impacts on all aspects of the environment are avoided, reduced or mitigated as far as reasonably practicable, and positive impacts are maximised.

Detailed environmental assessments will be carried out over the course of the project to ensure that the proposed works are undertaken without negatively impacting on these sensitive constraints.
The project recognises the sensitivity of the area, particularly from an archaeological and architectural heritage perspective and have been very cognisant of this in developing our emerging preferred option. Feedback from you, the public, in respect of these proposals will help us to ensure this design is further developed to enhance the area and minimise any impacts.

Further work is also proposed to ground truth our initial work and as part of ongoing environmental assessments as part of Stage 1 of DART+ Coastal South

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.

Construction Phase
Impacts during the construction phase are expected to be relatively minimal for Stage 1 of DART+ Coastal South. Some site-specific interventions will be required along the DART+ Coastal South route as part of the Stage 1 works, associated with the proposed increase in rail capacity. Every effort will be made to avoid, reduce, and/or mitigate negative impacts, however, there is likely to be some disturbance experienced for those near the railway line intervention locations caused by noise, lighting or erected fencing/hoarding associated with the construction activities. Localised construction works will be required linked to some track and platform modifications at Bray (Daly) Station, adjustments to the track, and the upgrade of Ennis Lane Level Crossing to a CCTV controlled crossing.

Prior to the commencement of construction works, a dedicated Community Liaison Officer will be appointed to communicate details of all upcoming works and to oversee the implementation of all required mitigation measures, thereby minimising any potential disruption resulting from the works. During the construction phase, residents living in close proximity to any planned works will receive ongoing communication in advance of significant works - i.e. piling or ground penetrating surveys.

Operational Phase
During the operational phase, the frequency of service will increase over time. Other impacts will be minimal as the existing line is already electrified and operates under electrical power.

Additional parking facilities at stations are not included as part of DART+ Coastal South's project scope. However, Iarnród Éireann’s Network Enhancement Division and the National Transport Authority’s Park & Ride Development Office are working on other projects to deliver enhanced parking at stations, for cars and bicycles. These projects are being developed in parallel to DART+ Coastal South.

The Southern Line, south of Bray is constrained by lengths of single track, proximity to the coast, and multiple tunnels which all combine to limit the potential for additional services beyond what is proposed by DART+ Coastal South. 3 trains per hour (3tph), representing a 50% increase in service, has been the determined to be the maximum feasible with the single line. A frequency higher than 3tph would require significant interventions such as tunnelling and double tracking.

Iarnród Éireann will continue to develop projects in line with demand, however any further capacity enhancement projects would be progressed as separate projects to DART+ Coastal South.

The main objectives of the DART+ Coastal South project include enabling the delivery of a higher frequency, higher capacity, reliable, electrified route to enable an increased train service frequency between Greystones and Dublin City Centre. Further information can be found in the project brochure or the project website www.dartplus.ie

In order to deliver the infrastructure and benefits of the DART+ Coastal South project in the most efficient manner possible, the project will be delivered in 2 distinct stages, as outlined below:

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