DART Upgrade on Target.

There will be no weekend services between Pearse and Howth/Malahide from 31st July.

The Dart Upgrade work will now switch to the Northside so that there will be no weekend services between Pearse and Howth/Malahide. Ianrod Eireann have completed the extension of Southside station platforms so that now they can accommodate 8-carriage DARTs. Other work that has been carried out includes renewing all overhead power lines on the southside. As from the 31st July weekend services will resume on the south side line running from Pearse to Greystones.

Projected upgrade works on the northside of the DART line include extending platforms, building new station buildings at Bayside and Howth Junction and enhance the access-facility for mobility impaired customers. The Northside Upgrade Programme is projected to continue for ten months. The line will reopen three weeks prior to Christmas and will close again from 28th December to January 3rd.

In order to ensure that Iarnrod Eireann customers can still travel at weekends, additional Dublin Bus services will be put in place. Buses will operate along routes adjacent to the DART line including routes: 29A - 31 - 31B - 32 - 32A - 32B - 42 - 42A - 42B.

In addition to the DART Upgrade project, Iarnrod Eireann are investing in a new DART Fleet to facilitate eight-carriage trains. At present, 16 of a 40 carraige order costing €80 million have been delivered, and are currently undergoing testing. This order means that the DART Fleet will be doubled in size and Iarnrod Eireann can begin to refurbish the original DART fleet, now 20 years old.