Dart expansion to Maynooth and Dunboyne faces delays

The western expansion of Dart services to Maynooth and Dunboyne is facing delays with an application yet to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

The National Transport Authority and Irish Rail last August published plans for the expansion of Dart services first announced 16 years ago, with an application for a railway order due to be submitted to the board in the first half of this year.

However, Irish Rail said on Wednesday it was likely to be the end of this year, or early next year, before the application is made. Some changes had been made to the project as a result of public feedback last year, it said. A fresh round of public consultations will be held on the preferred route before the railway order is lodged.

The plan involves the electrification of 40km of existing Sligo line as far as Maynooth and the M3 Parkway just north of Dunboyne to allow for Dart services.

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Dubbed DART+West, the project will see the elimination of level crossings along the route to end conflicts with road traffic. The most significant change to the scheme following the last round of public consultation is the removal of a proposed bridge at Coolmine.

The plans are available at dartplus.ie