Dart+

[Darrman]

There isn't a dedicated thread for all the work to do with the proposed Dart upgrades, so I'll just make this to serve as one.

To start with some news posted yesterday, the Coastal North railway order has been lodged, according to Irish Rail's own reports. This project covers electrification to Drogheda. How long will it take to get through the planning system?

Quote

Following the DART+ West Railway Order (Maynooth/M3 Parkway to Dublin), which was lodged with An Bord Pleanála in July 2022 and the DART+ South West Railway Order Application (Hazelhatch to Heuston / Phoenix Park Tunnel), which was lodged in March 2023

Well Maynooth has been in the system for two years. Best not hold your breath.

[226 Abhann na Suire]

The recent Cork line level crossing project (the replacement of a mere 7 or so level crossings between Charleville and Mallow) took over 3 years to make its way through ABP and that was a simple infrastructure project compared to DART+ so I can only hope they’ve gotten their act together… 

[irishrailways52]

the trains are battery electric meaning they will be able to reach some places without electrification. id say that will reduce the urgency and speed of this work.

 

[Darrman]

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/plans-to-extend-dart-network-to-kildare-and-meath-get-green-light/a805532602.html

Dart+ West has been mostly approved. Line electrification and level crossing closures will go ahead, but the depot west of Maynooth will not due to "flood risk". So we might end up with a railway, but nowhere to store the trains. It's worth asking at this point: how much space does Fairview have? Plenty of Dart+ trains have been bought and they need somewhere to be stored.

[K801]

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0730/1462601-dart-west-approval/

[GSR 800]

5 hours ago, Darrman said:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/plans-to-extend-dart-network-to-kildare-and-meath-get-green-light/a805532602.html

Dart+ West has been mostly approved. Line electrification and level crossing closures will go ahead, but the depot west of Maynooth will not due to "flood risk". So we might end up with a railway, but nowhere to store the trains. It's worth asking at this point: how much space does Fairview have? Plenty of Dart+ trains have been bought and they need somewhere to be stored.

Drogheda and Inchicore will be used, 29ks that arent sent to Limerick will be moved to Connolly where they'll be maintained as a backup for any failure of Dart + sets

[Branchline121]

7 hours ago, Darrman said:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/plans-to-extend-dart-network-to-kildare-and-meath-get-green-light/a805532602.html

Dart+ West has been mostly approved. Line electrification and level crossing closures will go ahead, but the depot west of Maynooth will not due to "flood risk". So we might end up with a railway, but nowhere to store the trains. It's worth asking at this point: how much space does Fairview have? Plenty of Dart+ trains have been bought and they need somewhere to be stored.

I’m excited that Meath will finally get electric trains, even if it’s only Dunboyne and not as far as Navan like in the Strategic Railway Review, I wonder when that will happen, if it happens at all?

[DoctorPan]

8 hours ago, Branchline121 said:

I’m excited that Meath will finally get electric trains, even if it’s only Dunboyne and not as far as Navan like in the Strategic Railway Review, I wonder when that will happen, if it happens at all?

Navan is currently out to tender for Phases 1 & 2, which does include OHLE design.

[226 Abhann na Suire]

21 hours ago, Darrman said:

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/plans-to-extend-dart-network-to-kildare-and-meath-get-green-light/a805532602.html

Dart+ West has been mostly approved. Line electrification and level crossing closures will go ahead, but the depot west of Maynooth will not due to "flood risk". So we might end up with a railway, but nowhere to store the trains. It's worth asking at this point: how much space does Fairview have? Plenty of Dart+ trains have been bought and they need somewhere to be stored.

When you say the depot will not happen, does that mean at all…??? Are they looking into relocating it…? Surely the depot is a must for the whole project…

[DoctorPan]

15 minutes ago, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

When you say the depot will not happen, does that mean at all…??? Are they looking into relocating it…? Surely the depot is a must for the whole project…

A new depot location will have to be found. Considering its less than 24 hours since the announcment and ruling, I'm sure a review for a suitable site will occur. And yes a dedicated depot is required. Maynooth was intended to be the EMU version of Laois Train Care with Fairview becoming a stabling point and Drogheda acting as depot outpost. The question now is where can they find a 2km long site for their requirements. 

[226 Abhann na Suire]

You’d wonder would somewhere beyond Hazelhatch be viable…? Between there and Naas? Or even just north of Rush and Lusk? Although that latter location may face the same flooding risks of the Maynooth depot… 

[DoctorPan]

1 hour ago, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

You’d wonder would somewhere beyond Hazelhatch be viable…? Between there and Naas? Or even just north of Rush and Lusk? Although that latter location may face the same flooding risks of the Maynooth depot… 

Hazelhatch had two options considered and both were rejected for flood risk as well plus requiring removal of housing. There's not many locations within the existing study areas that fit the bill. Interesting times ahead.

[GSR 800]

Extend the Dart to Mullingar and you'd have plenty of space!

Maybe in a century 

[226 Abhann na Suire]

On a train out of Heuston just now and spotted the unmistakable shape of one of the new DART+ carriages being loaded onto the tracks in Inchicore depot!! Exciting times ahead! Does anyone know are they being currently placed on accommodation bogies for the time being, or have their special articulated bogies arrived yet? 

[Branchline121]

Seemingly a Wikipedia page has sprung up detailing the new DART fleet. “IÉ 90000 Class,” is there any proof that they use those numbers yet? No sources either, so I’m confused as to where the author got the numbers from. Other than that, the page has little information, not even an infobox — I guess it’s too early for an article, considering the info about the fleet has been scarce at best.

[Niles]

24 minutes ago, Branchline121 said:

Seemingly a Wikipedia page has sprung up detailing the new DART fleet. “IÉ 90000 Class,” is there any proof that they use those numbers yet? No sources either, so I’m confused as to where the author got the numbers from. Other than that, the page has little information, not even an infobox — I guess it’s too early for an article, considering the info about the fleet has been scarce at best.

It's mentioned in the latest IRRS journal, 80000 will be the hybrid units, 90000 the pure electric. (Excellent issue incidentally, well worth joining for).

Edited October 30 by Niles

[GSR 800]

32 minutes ago, Niles said:

It's mentioned in the latest IRRS journal, 80000 will be the hybrid units, 90000 the pure electric. (Excellent issue incidentally, well worth joining for).

Duuublins goinn 90

[Branchline121]

1 hour ago, Niles said:

It's mentioned in the latest IRRS journal, 80000 will be the hybrid units, 90000 the pure electric. (Excellent issue incidentally, well worth joining for).

Huh. I wonder if it’d be worth anything creating an article for the 80000 Class too then?

[Niles]

33 minutes ago, Branchline121 said:

Huh. I wonder if it’d be worth anything creating an article for the 80000 Class too then?

All in good time I guess.

[Mayner]

On 21/10/2024 at 11:15 PM, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

On a train out of Heuston just now and spotted the unmistakable shape of one of the new DART+ carriages being loaded onto the tracks in Inchicore depot!! Exciting times ahead! Does anyone know are they being currently placed on accommodation bogies for the time being, or have their special articulated bogies arrived yet? 

 

Back in the day a number or prominent economists possibly including Dr Sean Barratt and political commentors criticised CIEs (the Government) for wasteful spending by ordering of the original DART cars with conventional rather than articulated bogies.

At the time the Irish Government invested over £100m in the DART which was considered a huge a huge sum of money at the time. Around the same time CIE introduced suburban services to Maynooth for £1m to fulfill an Albert Reynolds election promise/stunt.

Interesting how times and the attitude towards rail investment has changed.

[hurricanemk1c]

14 hours ago, Niles said:

It's mentioned in the latest IRRS journal, 80000 will be the hybrid units, 90000 the pure electric. (Excellent issue incidentally, well worth joining for).

I messed that up, should be the other way around (despite checking it 5 or 6 times). 90000 BEMU, 80000 EMU

[226 Abhann na Suire]

https://irishcycle.com/2024/11/13/images-an-in-depth-look-at-first-new-dart-train/
 

Unreal article here on IrishCycles about the first full new DART+ set that was unveiled in Inchicore today, a load of really good pics. I’m particularly impressed by the new PIS, wayyyy more informative than the current waste of money they’ve added to the 8600’s that only show the time and destination; these ones show next station, relative distance into the journey, which side the doors will open on, and even where in the train is least busy!! They will be nothing short of groundbreaking!