The DART+ South West project reached a major planning milestone when An Bord Pleanála officially approved its Railway Order application. Following this planning approval, national transport authorities launched the formal land acquisition process, issuing statutory Notices to Treat to roughly 750 directly impacted landowners along the rail corridor. Simultaneously, design-and-build procurement preparation has moved forward alongside the broader DART+ program, with pre-qualification questionnaires already released for key works packages. This project comes in as Ireland gears up its railway infrastructure.
Government updates indicate that while enabling infrastructure and compulsory purchase order (CPO) steps are actively progressing, physical construction is sequenced behind the DART+ West line, which serves as a critical enabler for fleet depot capacity. Main construction on DART+ South West is targeted to begin around 2028, with commercial operations slated to commence thereafter depending on funding rollouts. Once operational, the project will quadruple passenger capacity along the route from 5,000 to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction.
The completed route will extend electrified DART services from Hazelhatch & Celbridge to Dublin’s city center via the Phoenix Park Tunnel, terminating at Heuston Station and connecting toward Grand Canal Dock. Key infrastructure upgrades include 20 km of electrification, full quadrupling (four-tracking) of the rail line to separate InterCity and commuter trains, and the construction of a new station at Heuston West. These improvements aim to significantly enhance rail service frequency for growing communities in Dublin Mid-West and Kildare, including Adamstown, Clondalkin, and Park West.
March 13, 2023
The DART+ South West rail project’s plans will move forward thanks to an agreement with the Irish government. This project is being developed to extend DART trains from Dublin’s city center to Hazelhatch and Celbridge train stations in County Kildare. It is part of a more significant expansion of DART services.
Communities along the route, such as Islandbridge, Park West, Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin, Adamstown, Celbridge, and Hazelhatch, will receive a high-frequency and electrified rail service from it. A railway order (planning application) for DART+ South West will be approved by the Cabinet and submitted to An Bord Pleanála by the end of this month.
There is reportedly 20 km of new electrified rail infrastructure on the DART+ South West line. DART + South West construction work is anticipated to start in 2025. This is after the final funding agreements and planning approval. This infrastructure is expected to be complete by the end of the decade.
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DART+ South West rail project
In addition to doubling the rail track between Park West and Heuston, the project will also include the construction of a new station at Islandbridge called Heuston West. Along with the expanded route, it will also electrify the Phoenix Park Tunnel. This allows DART trains to operate between Hazelhatch/Celbridge and Connolly station (and beyond) and Heuston station.
DART+ South West comes under the multi-billion euro DART+ Programme. It is said to treble the present DART rail network from 53km to 150km. It will also support the DART’s expansion to Drogheda in the north, Maynooth and the M3 Parkway in the west, and Hazelhatch and Celbridge in the southwestern direction.
“The government’s approval of DART+ South West today highlights our commitment to investing in high-quality public transportation. This will also decarbonize Ireland’s transportation system,” said Eamon Ryan, Ireland’s Minister of Transport. Those who reside in the communities along the route will be transformed. This is because of this rail project’s fast, dependable, and frequent train service into Dublin.
Factsheet
Project Name: DART+ South West (part of the overall DART+ Programme)
Client / Authority: Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) & National Transport Authority (NTA)
Scope: Modernization, electrification, and capacity expansion of the Kildare Rail Corridor into Dublin
Route Length: 20 km
Key Technical Specifications & Capacity
- Passenger Capacity: Expands peak capacity from 5,000 to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction.
- Service Frequency: Increases total service from 12 to 23 trains per hour per direction (adding 11 new DART+ electric services).
- Power and Electrification: Overhead 1,500V DC electrification along the entire 20 km corridor.
Infrastructure Upgrades:
- Four-tracking (quadrupling) of the railway from Park West & Cherry Orchard Station to Heuston Station to segregate fast InterCity trains from commuter/DART services.
- Modifications and upgrades to bridges, civil works, and the historic Phoenix Park Tunnel.
- Upgraded signaling and power traction substations along the route.
Key Locations and Stations
Corridor Extent: Hazelhatch & Celbridge Station to Dublin City Centre (Heuston Station & via Phoenix Park Tunnel toward Glasnevin/Grand Canal Dock).
Existing Stations Served: Hazelhatch & Celbridge, Adamstown, Kishoge, Clondalkin & Fonthill, Park West & Cherry Orchard, Drumcondra.
New Station: Heuston West (located at Clancy Quay / Islandbridge).
Project Status & Timeline
Planning Approval: Railway Order approved by An Bord Pleanála.
Current Phase: Land acquisition (Compulsory Purchase Orders / Notices to Treat issued to 750 landowners) and pre-qualification procurement.
Main Construction Target: 2028 (sequenced following depot and enabling works under DART+ West).
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