Iarnród Éireann is advancing work on a new underground second DART line through the heart of Dublin city centre.
The DART Underground rail line, now proposed to run from Docklands to Inchicore, will complete the trebling of the Greater Dublin area's rail service capacity from 33 million passenger journeys annually now to 100 million passenger journeys upon completion.
The DART Underground tunnels will be approximately 7.6 Km in length and will connect the Northern and Kildare rail lines, with underground stations strategically located at Spencer Dock, Pearse, St. Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston Station, as well as a new surface DART station at Inchicore.
The DART Underground rail project took another significant step towards delivery on Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 when the formal application was lodged with An Bord Pleanála for the Railway Order granting planning approval. Subject to the granting of the Railway Order it is anticipated that construction will commence in 2012 and that the system will be operational in 2018.
DART Underground will be the single most important piece of infrastructure in the state to ensure a modal shift from private to public transport, and free future generations from the gridlock which cripples the Greater Dublin area today. It is a central part of the Government's Transport 21 ten-year transport investment plan. It also links all rail modes - DART, Commuter, Intercity, Luas and Metro - to form an integrated cohesive transport network.
This project is funded by the Irish Government under the Transport 21 investment programme; it is also being part-funded by the Ten-T Executive Agency of the European Commission. Elements of this project will be undertaken as a Public Private Partnership (PPP), Iarnród Éireann and the Department of Transport are currently examining a number of options for PPP.
The new line will dramatically increase frequency and capacity for commuters on DART Northern, Maynooth and Kildare lines - the three fastest growing population corridors in the country - and relieve the current congestion at Connolly Station. Development plans also include the extension of the DART network to Maynooth, Hazelhatch/Celbridge and the Northern line.
DART Underground provides the missing link that that will deliver a fully integrated rail network for the Greater Dublin Area, linking all modes and ensuring that suburb to suburb, as well as suburb to city centre, journey's can be made by a frequent, high capacity public transport network.
The new line will dramatically changeIarnród Éireann's DART and Commuter network. Northern line DART services from Balbriggan and Howth will branch off the existing DART line after Clontarf Road, going underground to new stations and opening up a web of new rail connections:
Spencer Dock Station connects with the expanded Luas Red Line
Pearse Station will become a central transport hub as both DART lines interchange there, opening up a variety of new rail connections and options. Pearse will also link with outer Commuter services.
St. Stephen’s Green will have convenient access to the Luas Green Line and the proposed Metro North to the Airport and Swords.
Christchurch with future Luas City Centre-Lucan line.
Heuston Station links to Intercity services from the South and the West, outer Commuter trains and the Luas Red Line.
Inchicore with the Kildare DART line and the planned Luas City Centre-Lucan line.
The Docklands to Inchicore Interconnector will deliver:
A second high capacity DART line through the heart of the city centre, a 7.6 kilometre underground line
Dramatically increased frequency and capacity for services on the Northern, Maynooth and Kildare lines - the three fastest growing population corridors in the country – and relieving the current congestion at Connolly Station
A fully integrated rail network for the Greater Dublin area, linking all modes - DART, Commuter, Intercity, LUAS and Metro - and ensuring that suburb to suburb as well as suburb to city centre journeys can be made by a frequent, high capacity public transport network
Two high capacity DART lines proposed as Balbriggan/Howth to Hazelhatch; and Maynooth/Dunboyne(M3) to Bray/Greystones, with DART extensions to some routes likely to be delivered in advance of the DART Underground
A trebling of the number of passenger journeys by DART and Commuter rail annually - up from 33 million today to 100 million
A critical piece of urban, regional and national infrastructure
Up to 7,000 jobs during each year of construction of the construction phase, with many thousands more jobs indirectly as a result of the significantly improved access that the project will deliver to retail, commercial, leisure and tourist destinations in Dublin.
The DART Underground rail project took another significant step towards delivery on Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 when the formal application was lodged with An Bord Pleanála for the Railway Order granting planning approval for the construction of this key public transport infrastructure scheme.
The Railway Order is the equivalent of a planning permission for new rail schemes and, if granted, will authorise CIÉ to construct, maintain, improve and operate the DART Underground. The project will involve the construction and operation of approximately 8.6 Km of new rail (7.6 Km of which will be in tunnels) from the CIÉ Inchicore Works to tie into the Northern mainline south of East Wall Road and north of the Docklands area. The project will be managed on behalf of CIÉ by Iarnród Éireann, supported by expert advisers with international experience of similar major infrastructure projects.
Subject to the granting of the Railway Order it is anticipated that construction will commence in 2012 and that the system will be operational in 2018. The tunnels will be constructed using two Tunnel Boring Machines, launching from the Docklands, at an average depth of 24 metres, or some 80 feet, below ground level. The underground stations will be constructed using techniques that will minimize the effect for the local residents, communities and environment.
Under the Railway Order, CIÉ will be displaying the full plans for the Project at various different locations for a period of six weeks.
The full Railway Order documentation, including:
The draft Railway Order
Plans of the proposed railway works
A Book of Reference to the plan, indicating owners and occupiers of lands described in the plans
Environmental Impact Statement
will be on display from 7th July until 18th August 2010 at the following locations:
An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1
Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
Heuston Station, Dublin 8
Pearse Station, Dublin 2
CIÉ Inchicore Works (Inchicore Parade Entrance), Dublin 8.
The display is to allow all interested parties to view the plans. Any interested party then has the opportunity up to the end of the display period to submit any views they have on the project to An Bord Pleanála.
All submissions, including the original plans, are then considered by an Inspector appointed by An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála may, at its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing into an application for a railway order. The Inspector shall submit to An Bord Pleanála a report in writing of his/her findings and any recommendations he/she considers appropriate having regard to the submissions/inquiry. An Bord Pleanála will rule on the final scope of the project.
Other Developments
As the project progresses to the formal Railway Order planning approval stage, there are a number of other significant developments taking place:
The project is being developed as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The formal procurement process commenced on 12th May with the publication of the Contract Notice in the Official Journal of the EU. The deadline for the submission of the pre-qualification questionnaire is set for the 20th July.
The business case for the project was recently completed by Colin Buchanan & Partners Ltd, a leading international transport planning and economics consultancy, and it concluded that the economic case for DART Underground is very strong and that overall the completion of the system is crucial to the future economic development of Dublin. It forecasts that the DART Underground programme will generate 2.4 times more benefit than it will cost to build and will deliver significant wider economic benefits. This statistic demonstrates that DART Underground will be a major factor in the future economic development of the country.
With average tunnelling depths of 24 metres the project is not expected to significantly impact on the vast majority of properties along the route. However, in order to allay any concerns residents and property owners may have, a Property Protection Scheme has been put in place so that they have a record of the condition of their property prior to the commencement of the construction of DART Underground. This record will be a benchmark against which any deterioration in a property can be measured.
