Darrman Posted July 13 Posted July 13 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. 1 Quote
226 Abhann na Suire Posted July 14 Posted July 14 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… Quote
irishrailways52 Posted July 14 Posted July 14 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. 1 Quote
Darrman Posted July 30 Author Posted July 30 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. 1 Quote
K801 Posted July 30 Posted July 30 https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0730/1462601-dart-west-approval/ Quote
GSR 800 Posted July 30 Posted July 30 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 Quote
Branchline121 Posted July 30 Posted July 30 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? 1 Quote
DoctorPan Posted July 31 Posted July 31 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. 1 Quote
226 Abhann na Suire Posted July 31 Posted July 31 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… Quote
DoctorPan Posted July 31 Posted July 31 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. 1 Quote
226 Abhann na Suire Posted July 31 Posted July 31 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… Quote
DoctorPan Posted July 31 Posted July 31 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. Quote
GSR 800 Posted July 31 Posted July 31 Extend the Dart to Mullingar and you'd have plenty of space! Maybe in a century Quote
226 Abhann na Suire Posted October 21 Posted October 21 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? 7 Quote
Branchline121 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 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. Quote
Niles Posted October 30 Posted October 30 (edited) 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 2 Quote
GSR 800 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 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 2 Quote
Branchline121 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 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? 1 Quote
Niles Posted October 30 Posted October 30 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. 1 Quote
Mayner Posted October 30 Posted October 30 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. 2 Quote
hurricanemk1c Posted October 31 Posted October 31 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 2 1 Quote
226 Abhann na Suire Posted November 13 Posted November 13 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! 2 1 Quote
DoctorPan Posted November 22 Posted November 22 Word on the grapevine is that ABP has granted DART+SouthWest it's Railway Order and should be made public today. 3 Quote
skinner75 Posted November 22 Posted November 22 On 13/11/2024 at 10:20 PM, 226 Abhann na Suire said: 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! The way the seats mount to the walls, and not the floor, will make cleaning the floor real handy that's for sure 1 Quote
DoctorPan Posted November 22 Posted November 22 57 minutes ago, DoctorPan said: Word on the grapevine is that ABP has granted DART+SouthWest it's Railway Order and should be made public today. https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/case/316119 And the grapevine has borne fruit. South West has it's Railway Order! 5 Quote
Flying Snail Posted November 22 Posted November 22 Irish Rail press release on it: An Bord Pleanála approves DART+ South West Railway Order Quote
Westcorkrailway Posted November 22 Posted November 22 Will this mean platform 10 and maybe even a new platform 11 at heuston will come to be used? 1 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted November 22 Posted November 22 20 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said: Will this mean platform 10 and maybe even a new platform 11 at heuston will come to be used? It has been used in the past, I’ve definitely boarded a train there, 20+ years ago. Quite a trek from Heuston proper though, I recall there was a bus shuttle on offer but it was quicker to walk than wait for the bus! 2 Quote
DoctorPan Posted November 22 Posted November 22 31 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said: Will this mean platform 10 and maybe even a new platform 11 at heuston will come to be used? Platform 10 will become part of the new Heuston West station. 2 1 Quote
jhb171achill Posted November 22 Posted November 22 On 30/10/2024 at 9:28 PM, Mayner said: 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. Indeed - though we still have many naysayers about just about ANY sort of rail investment in or around Dublin (over or underground, heavy or light rail!), or Athenry - Claremorris. Bold moves are needed by whopever is next in government. We all ought to remember this when we vote shortly! 1 Quote
Broithe Posted November 22 Posted November 22 15 minutes ago, jhb171achill said: Indeed - though we still have many naysayers about just about ANY sort of rail investment in or around Dublin (over or underground, heavy or light rail!), or Athenry - Claremorris. Bold moves are needed by whopever is next in government. We all ought to remember this when we vote shortly! I'm sure we all know people who moved seamlessly from "The Luas is a white elephant. Who's going to bother using that?" to "The Luas has nowhere near enough capacity" without even noticing it themselves. 3 Quote
Newtoncork Posted November 22 Posted November 22 Interesting story. My Dad worked in Irish Pioneer Works in Cork, galvanising steel. They won the contract to galvanise the pylons for the original Dart, as they had a longest molten zinc bath in Ireland. But the pylons were so long, they had to double dip them. He's still alive and very proud of the fact that the vast majority of the DART pylons still in use were dipped by him in the late 70's. 8 Quote
jhb171achill Posted November 22 Posted November 22 On 19/11/2024 at 6:57 PM, Der Rechtsanwalt said: Unless I've missed something on account of the thing not being steam-powered, has there as yet been any opportunity for the public to view one of these things at Inchicore, or will there be? Quote
Flying Snail Posted November 24 Posted November 24 Geoff Marshall has a good piece on the new Dart+ set 4 Quote
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