DART Underground- Integrating Dublin’s Transport System
Monday the 23rd of November 2009
What is DART Underground?
The DART Underground is a second, high-capacity DART line which will run underground through the heart of the City Centre. It will form the central spine of the commuter rail network for Dublin and surrounding counties, the Greater Dublin Area. It will provide the capacity to ensure that there will be a huge increase in the frequency of trains running on all rail routes leading into Dublin, and in addition with electrification work, will see the DART extended to the Northern, Maynooth and Kildare commuter lines. It will link all rail modes together into a single, integrated and cohesive network – DART, Commuter, Intercity, Luas and Metro.
The tunnel will be approximately 7.5 Km in length and will connect the Northern & Kildare lines, with underground stations at Docklands, Pearse, St. Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston as well as a new surface station at Inchicore.
DART Underground is the most significant piece of rail infrastructure to be constructed under Transport 21. Together with current investment such as the Kildare Route Project and City Centre Resignalling, DART Underground will treble the numbers travelling on the Greater Dublin commuter network to over 100 million passenger journeys annually.
How will it be built?
The tunnel will be constructed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM’s). Two single bored tunnels will be constructed, with each of the tracks in a single tunnel. The portals (tunnel entrances) will be on Iarnród Éireann land at Inchicore and the North Docklands, and the average depth of the tunnel is estimated at 24 metres (over 80 feet) below ground level. The underground stations will be constructed using techniques that will minimise the effect for the local residents and environment. The platforms and linking passages will be constructed using underground mining techniques in locations where ground conditions permit, at Pearse Station, St. Stephen’s Green, Christchurch and Heuston. At Docklands Station, where ground conditions are not suitable for such techniques, the platforms and linking cross passages will mainly be constructed using cut and cover techniques.
When will it be built?
The construction of the DART Underground is scheduled to begin in 2011 and will take approximately 5 years to complete. Iarnród Éireann are currently undertaking design, public consultation, environmental impact assessment and associated works to prepare for the Railway Order application for planning approval to be made early in 2010. Enabling works are scheduled to commence in 2010.
What happens next?
Iarnród Éireann are currently undertaking public consultations to communicate the benefits of the project and outline to communities and businesses the nature of the works in their area. This process is designed to allow the public have their say and to bring any queries, concerns or suggestions they have to the attention of the project team. This will feed into the final design of the project. Further phases of public consultation will take place as the project evolves and progresses, up to and including the Railway Order planning application, and construction itself.