The Dart+ West rail project — a key component of Irish Rail’s ambitious network expansion — has been cleared for takeoff after two judicial review cases were dropped. The legal actions, which had stalled progress for nearly a year, were settled confidentially, paving the way for the extension of electrified Dart services to Maynooth in Co Kildare and the M3 Parkway near Dunboyne, Co Meath.
Dart+ Rail image
The cases were brought by Burke Brothers, a hardware and electrical wholesaler based near Ashtown Station, and Gowan Motor Group, its neighbouring business. Both companies had challenged An Bord Pleanála’s approval of the development, citing potential disruptions and planning concerns. The High Court had scheduled hearings for June 23rd, but both parties have now agreed to withdraw their objections following private settlements with Irish Rail.
Originally proposed under the Government’s Transport 21 strategy in 2005, the Dart expansion plans were shelved during the financial crisis and revived in 2020 as the Dart+ programme. The Dart+ West portion has been one of the most significant legs of this rebooted strategy, with formal planning permission submitted in July 2022 after a series of public consultations delayed the original timeline.
The Dart+ West project is part of a broader €2.6 billion Dart+ programme aimed at modernising and expanding the greater Dublin commuter rail network. Other extensions under the plan include electrification to Drogheda, Co Louth, and Hazelhatch/Celbridge, Co Kildare, along with capacity upgrades to Greystones, Co Wicklow.
Once completed, Dart+ will triple the size of the Dart network from 53km to 150km and expand access to rail transport significantly — increasing the number of people living within 1km of a Dart station from 250,000 to an estimated 600,000.
Irish Rail has not yet confirmed a revised timeline for construction but has welcomed the withdrawal of the legal actions, calling it a “positive step” toward delivering a greener, more connected future for public transport in Ireland.