DART Extension to Drogheda Gets Planning Approval

Image credit: Matt Walsh

The long-planned extension of the DART network northwards to Drogheda has been given the green light. An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved the DART+ Coastal North project, which will see 37 kilometres of the Northern Line electrified and upgraded between Malahide and Drogheda MacBride station.

The works will involve installing overhead electric wires, modernising signalling, and carrying out major upgrades at key stations including Drogheda, Malahide, Clongriffin and Howth Junction. A new platform is to be built at Drogheda, while depots and track layouts will also be reconfigured to handle increased capacity.

Once completed, the project is expected to nearly double the number of passengers that can be carried on the line during peak hours — rising from around 4,800 to 8,800 people per hour in each direction.

Irish Rail says the project will make rail travel more sustainable and reliable for commuters in north Dublin and Louth. However, some timetable changes may be required to maximise capacity. One option under consideration is replacing direct Howth–Dublin services with a shuttle between Howth Junction and Howth, though this could mean more frequent closures of level crossings.

Welcoming the approval, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said the project would deliver a significant improvement in frequency and capacity for Northern Line passengers. Irish Rail’s chief executive Jim Meade described it as “a great day for the communities of North Dublin and Louth.”

Procurement for a design-and-build contractor is already under way. Following that process, detailed design and construction will take place, with the full project expected to take around three years to complete, subject to funding.

You can learn more about DART+ Coastal North on the project website.