Dart Line Extension to Drogheda Approved for Expansion
By ArdeePost Reporter
Plans to extend Dart line to Drogheda given the green light
Commuters in Louth and North Dublin have received a major boost as An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved the long-awaited DART+ Coastal North project, which will extend electrified Dart services from Malahide all the way to Drogheda’s MacBride Station.
The extension – part of Irish Rail’s €2 billion investment programme – will see 37km of railway line electrified and a series of infrastructure upgrades that promise to transform daily travel for thousands of passengers along the Northern Commuter route.
When completed, the capacity between Malahide and Drogheda will nearly double from 4,800 to 8,800 passengers at peak times, with significantly more frequent and reliable services.
“This is a great day for the communities of North Dublin and Louth,” said Irish Rail chief executive Jim Meade. “The provision of DART services will transform commuting for the existing and new communities along this railway corridor, making it more sustainable, more frequent, and more reliable.”
The project will include:
- 37km of electrification from Malahide to Drogheda.
- Major redevelopment works at Drogheda MacBride, Malahide, Clongriffin, and Howth Junction stations.
- A new platform at Drogheda MacBride Station.
- Upgrades to depots at Fairview and Drogheda to accommodate the new train fleet.
- A reconfigured track layout north of Malahide to reduce the impact on nearby residential areas.
Hugh Creegan of the National Transport Authority hailed the approval as “a significant milestone in the transformation of rail services in the Greater Dublin Area and for the communities across North Dublin, East Meath, and Louth.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien emphasised the importance of the project, noting that electrification will allow more sustainable, higher-capacity services for the growing commuter population.
Irish Rail will now begin the procurement process for contractors, followed by a period of detailed design before construction begins. Subject to government funding being allocated, construction is expected to take around three years.
The Dart+ Coastal North extension is one of the most ambitious transport projects in decades and is seen as a transformational step for Drogheda, Louth, and the wider commuter belt.