DART Expansion Options Assessment

SYSTRA are working with the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to develop a range of options for the DART Expansion Rail project in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The purpose of the DART Expansion Programme is to provide a substantial improvement in public transport supply in the GDA by integrating the existing four heavy rail lines in Dublin City Centre thereby increasing passenger capacity, train frequency and interchange opportunities.

The DART Expansion Programme will represent the cornerstone of the future transport system for the GDA through integration with other modes of transport. The DART Expansion Programme is primarily enabled through the construction of a rail tunnel underneath Dublin City Centre, linking the Cork line west of Heuston station to the Northern line north of Connolly station. Ancillary improvements to the existing network include electrification to Drogheda, Maynooth, and Hazelhatch, removal of level crossings, purchase of additional rolling stock and provision of new depot facilities.

The tunnel section of the DART Expansion Programme (with stations at Inchicore, Heuston, Christchurch, St. Stephen’s Green, Pearse and Docklands) is called the DART Underground Project and has a capital cost of approximately €3billion. The tunnel section is subject to much of the optioneering, transport modelling and appraisal, being undertaken by SYSTRA, with the aim of finding a possible cheaper alternative to this element of the project whilst maintaining much of the potential benefits of the overall scheme.