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A DART train on Howth peninsula Alamy Stock Photo
DART Coastal North
Irish Rail proposes using 'shuttle' DART trains to Howth and Sutton
Irish Rail is proposing that trains from Howth could run as shuttle services to Howth Junction with passengers changing trains to continue into Dublin.
10.48am, 17 May 2023
20.3k
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IRISH RAIL WILL hold a second public consultation on proposed changes to the DART route which would extend the line from Malahide to Drogheda and require passengers to switch trains if they are travelling to Dublin city centre from Howth.
Residents of Howth and Sutton were critical of the proposed change at the first public consultation last night, while a second consultation will be held tomorrow in the D Hotel, Drogheda.
The changes were proposed as part of the DART+ Coastal North programme and would see an extension of the electrified train line from Malahide to Drogheda MacBride Station, as well as more frequent DART services.
Under the new proposal the number of trains from Drogheda to Dublin city centre would increase from 11 to 24, with an increase in capacity for commuters from 12,500 to 26,600.
There would also be a 50% increase in service and capacity from Malahide to Dublin city centre through an increase from 20 trains to 30.
This would mean an increase in capacity from 23,300 to 33,800 passengers, but commuters would be required to change train at Howth Junction.
Local residents were critical of the proposal at last night’s consultation in Sutton, with some people fearing that their direct access to the DART was being “sacrificed” to benefit Drogheda.
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“We have had direct train services from Howth for 179 years,” one woman said, according to the Irish Times.
“The reason we are being subject to this is because they are extending the service to Drogheda and there are going to be lots of extra trains on the line, but our direct service will be cut off – we are being sacrificed for Drogheda.”
“I think these consultation things are a done deal before you even get here.”
Some residents raised fears that switching trains would make them subject to anti-social behaviour at Howth Junction & Donaghmede station, where a teen boy pushed a girl off the train platform in 2021.
The DART+ Coastal North plan would also include the construction of a new platform at Drogheda MacBride station and modifications to existing depots at Drogheda and Fairview to support the new train fleet.
Welcoming the launch of the public consultation, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the DART+ Coastal North programme would increase the accessibility of “fast, frequent and low-carbon public transport”.
“Battery-electric trains will be serving this demand from 2025 and the future rollout of DART+ Coastal North will further enhance rail transport options along the Northern Line,” he said.
“This Government is committed to providing quality, frequent and accessible transport so that people can choose to leave the car at home more often.”
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How many people are using the train from Howth versus coming from all the way down the East Coast from Drogheda? I can’t see Howth residents winning this. Nor should they really……
They’re not being cut off, they’re just being asked to join the main line. And if it increases the number of trains surely that’s a good thing overall?
@Tricia G: yeah it’s probably the sensible change.It won’t be without issues though. Irish rail/gardai will probably have to address howth junction station. It’s like a ghetto at the best of times. And the howth train is brimming with tourists daily (1000s on the weekends) who will need changover here. It’s also a busy enough commute but I dont know the numbers exactly.Then there will be the knock on effect of traffic on the Dublin road with people deciding not to take train. And also parking in howth (which is currently free) if people find it more hassle too get train. There is also a massive apartment complex being built beside howth station. Bound to increase demand.
I can understand why they are complaining. Most people don’t want to be inconvenienced but it happens I guess.
@Tricia G: it’s looks like that the entire area from Lusk to Drogheda will become a huge Dublin suburb. There’s a lot of housing developments in Lusk, Rush, Skerries, Balbriggan, Laytown, Bettystown and Morington. The DART will encourage even more developments.
@Tricia G: many people may have bought a house in Howth because of the DART line. Why not just do both, there are already separate DARTS to Howth and Malahide. Start building a proper public network around the city and into the suburbs not along the coast.
@Tipper Irie: because we haven’t built any new rail since the Brits were here as far as I know and wont have any for a long time. DART+ will just be using the existing lines which are already congested, it’s not as simple as just putting more direct trains from Howth.
@Tipper Irie: Only so many trains can operate at a time. MAYBE yes, one “express” train an hour perhaps with all others requiring a change but implementation and timing is challenging.
@Paul Furey: I’d argue they’re already part of the “Dublin suburb” and a better public transport system is required to reduce the numbers currently forced to drive.
@Tipper Irie: more efficient logistically doing it with the shuttle train…… Inconvenient for the people from Howth line who won’t be virtually guaranteed a seat
@Tricia G: as someone from Howth who depends on the dart daily I think it’s a disgrace! Why should we have to change over? There just needs to be an increased frequency and capacity over all!
And to answer your comment about how many people use the service, it’s a hell of a lot and would have a much greater impact on our local economy than drogheda
@James Moore: you should have to change because in doing this it makes the dart a better service for way more people than live in howth while only inconveniencing you a little
@eoin fitzpatrick: it’s not just inconveniencing me it’s 100s of local passengers per day not to mention the amount of tourists who come out to Howth. Also there is only one road in and out of Howth and the traffic is already bad and making people change darts will only encourage the people affected by this proposed change to drive therefore making the traffic worse! The people who live on the train line have much more options in terms of different routes they can take if forced to drive than those of us on the proposed affected side
@James Moore: it’s not just about Drogheda though, is it? It’s about a population more than 5 times bigger, possibly 10, actually getting a service that works. So a hell of a lot more. Howth will still have a service, and a far better one than up the coast at the moment. So cut the selfish moaning, and look at the bigger picture.
Honestly we need to do whatever works best for the greater amount of people. If people from Howth have to change big deal. We can’t have a few moaners bring the quality of services down overall. This kind of stuff is what holds this country’s infrastructure back.
@eoin fitzpatrick: it won’t bring the quality of the service down to keep both tracks running to the city directly if they increase the capacity and frequency of trains! Everywhere is experiencing development and issues with public transport so it is madness to suggest to ask a sizeable amount of commuters to change and make their commute even longer! The train is packed from bayside onwards
If you are a resident in Howth, Sutton, Baldoyle, or surrounding areas, or even travelling that general direction, there are 3 level crossings in very close proximity. Unless trains can fly, the extra capacity and frequency will cause massive traffic jams at level crossings, which will have a severe impact on school runs or shopping. It will also kill a struggling tourist market in Howth. Myopic planning proposal, in my opinion.
@B2dL Me/You: well said. Traffic is already really bad when the gates are down at the moment, so their proposal will mean gates will be down for 30 mins of every hour. Can you imagine the tailbacks which will affect those trying to get to Sutton and Howth and those trying to get to the Airport/ M50. Not alone that but extra capacity will be needed due to the hundreds of apartments they’re building. There has to be a better alternative (perhaps reduce the number of darts from Howth / to Howth, but make them express). They are trying to make public transport attractive to all, this proposal certainly defeats that. It’s so Irish, keep on building out in the suburbs but don’t build any new infrastructure to support it.
After moving from Bayside to Rush last year I can honestly say that I don’t believe this is a great idea. The Dart is rammed at rush hour from Bayside onwards. I have yet to get on a busier train from Rush. And absolutely nobody lives near the Rush & Lusk station, it’s bizarre.
@eoin fitzpatrick: would you want to have change trains? I wouldn’t, especially in winter. Considering they don’t even match up the bus and train out in Rush, I can’t see this being a case where you step off the train at Howth Junction and catch a train to town straight away.
@Jen Mc: if only there was a solution to having crowded trains….I dunno maybe increase frequency and capacity …oh wait that’s what being proposed ?? And some people don’t think it’s a good idea to add more trains double capacity and more frequent services ……because the existing services are too full ?
@Jen Mc: Rush&Lusk is hardly typical of the entire line. Nor is linking train/bus timetables particularly relevant to coordinating trains with each other. It’s desperately needed further north, and cocooned Howth-dwellers need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Howth Junction/ kilbarrack was always a hub of anti social behaviour. Now add thousands of visitors/ normal travellers to Baldoyle, Bayside, Sutton and Howth. The beach at Sutton and Howth are literally packed when the sun comes out. From May to September, burrow Road is like a pedestrian area and cars are backed up from Clontarf up to Howth on the coast road. Guards have trouble keeping peace in Sutton and Howth and now all these 1000′s of additional passengers will have to stand at Howth Junction together. Initially they proposed a bus from Howth Junction and now a feeder train.
Massive immigration is fueling the need for more trains, schools, hospitals etc.. Population in Ireland went up by 90,000 last year alone. Metro Boston, MA has added about 1M more people in the past 30 years. Cramming people into small spaces is not a great strategy.
@Paulco: 90,000 is an anomaly, if you look at Ireland’s 30 year pattern. And really it’s an underpopulated country. People have just got very used to space for increased urban sprawl, without proper increase in infrastructure. So now both issues need to be tackled.
Eamonn Ryan keeps going on about using public transport yet the Dart does not operate before 0900 on a Sunday.
If the new proposals to change at Howth Junction dont guarantee a seat maybe its time to start driving instead. Also the journey time is longer and more inconvenient
Why not keep the current system, add a track, do direct Dublin to Drogheda and back peak hours and a slow one with more stops including one to change onto the Howth Dublin line.
I see Eoin Fitzpatrick wants to live in a glorified Ballymun tower where kids have no green space and live 14 stories up in the air. No wonder couples aren’t having as many kids anymore.
@Paulco: much of the world live in apartment towers not everyone is afraid of having neighbours. if you’re concerned with lack of green spaces, dense living in 14 stories is what you should be promoting. If everyone in dense cities were to move into sprawled out suburbs and one offs it would take up far more space and leave less areas green. pretty straightforward.
@Paulco: not all high-rise is the same as Ballymun, which seems to be thrown out as a hysterical buzzword whenever such plans are suggested. The error there was building a ready-made ghetto.
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