Minister for Transport turns sod at Iarnród Éireann’s newest Station, Woodbrook
27 Samhain 2023
Minister for Transport, Éamon Ryan T.D was joined by Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan, Anne Graham, CEO of National Transport Authority and Jim Meade, CEO of Iarnród Éireann to turn a sod to mark the commencement of construction of Woodbrook, Iarnród Éireann’s newest DART Station.
Woodbrook Station, which is located between Bray and Shankill, will serve the existing and new communities of Woodbrook and Shanganagh. It will be the 147th Station on the company’s network. There are currently 145 stations on the network: Kishoge will open in 2024 and Woodbrook will open in 2025.
Funded by the National Transport Authority, the station will be at the heart of a new residential community of up to 2,300 housing units.
Identified as a ‘Future Development Area’ in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan Core Strategy, the development at Woodbrook, together with the new station, supports transport and land-use policy, delivering a substantial compact sustainable residential community in Woodbrook-Shanganagh. The provision of the station will reduce reliance on the private car and assist Ireland in reaching its climate action targets.
Woodbrook Station will consist of two 174m long platforms with associated passenger shelters, seating, lighting, CCTV, customer information, bicycle parking and ticketing facilities. Access across the railway tracks will be via a new pedestrian bridge with ramped and stepped access. Modifications to the existing overhead-line equipment is required. The station design considers and allows for future plans for pedestrian and cycling access routes in the station vicinity. Access to the station is via Woodbrook Avenue which is a new road currently under construction. Existing DART services are planned to serve the station with a service frequency of approximately every 10 minutes in each direction on weekdays. The journey time to Dublin city centre will be approximately 40 minutes.
Enabling works commenced on the station site in 2022. This included the replacement of an existing bridge deck to allow construction access and the relocation of railway infrastructure to accommodate the new station. Following a competitive tender process, John Cradock Ltd was awarded the contract to undertake the main station construction works. The station is expected to open in summer 2025. Approximately 15 people are expected to be employed on the site for the duration of the works.
Minister for Transport, Éamon Ryan T.D. said: “There was a train stop here in Woodbrook on the former Dublin and South Eastern Railway so it’s great that we are bringing a new age of rail back to thriving communities like this, as Iarnród Éireann’s newest DART Station. This station will be of great benefit to the local community, where new housing is also being developed. It is a good example of transport and planning working in step and a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to strengthening public transport for more people. I’m delighted that construction has started and I look forward to its completion.”
Anne Graham, Chief Executive of National Transport Authority said: “The commencement of construction at Woodbrook represents a significant milestone and is another indication of the real progress that is being made in developing a public transport service that will meet the transport requirements of people in the Dublin region for years and decades to come. I have no doubt that plans for investment in rail, including the DART+ programme, will prove to be transformative for the entire region”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann said: “This is a great day for Iarnród Éireann as we commence construction on our 147th station on our network. The need to be more sustainable has never been more important given the climate challenges that we face. This station will serve the new and existing community with a fast, frequent, reliable and sustainable service, reducing the necessity for private car journeys.”
Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said: I am delighted today to see the start of the construction of Woodbrook Station, which is located between Bray and Shankill, and is set to become the essential transportation hub for communities in Woodbrook and Shanganagh. By providing this modern station, we aim to reduce the dependence on private cars and will assist us towards meeting our climate action targets. This new station will enrich the lives of residents and enhance the attractiveness of the Woodbrook-Shanganagh community for growth and prosperity.”
