Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) - A

Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) - A

The Dublin Area Rapid Transit system (stylised as DART) is an electrified commuter rail railway network serving the coastline and city of Dublin, Ireland. The service makes up the core of Dublin's suburban railway network, stretching from Greystones, County Wicklow, in the south to Howth and Malahide in north County Dublin.

The DART serves 31 stations and consists of 53 route kilometres of electrified railway (46 km (29 mi) double track, 7 km (4.3 mi) single), and carries in the region of 20 million passengers per year. In a similar manner to the Berlin S-Bahn, the DART blends elements of a commuter rail service and a rapid transit system.

The DART system was established by Córas Iompair Éireann in 1984 to replace an ageing fleet of diesel-powered locomotives. It was, and still is, the only electric mainline railway in Ireland, and one of two currently operating electric railways, the other being the Luas tram which opened in 2004. Since 1987, the service is operated by Iarnród Éireann, Ireland's national rail operator. Contemporary rolling stock on the DART network is powered by 1,500 V DC overhead lines and uses the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Irish gauge.

Dublin Area Rapid Transit History

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Initial Development

The section of trackbed between Dún Laoghaire and Dublin City was originally laid out as part of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, Ireland's first railway. This line was later connected with the Belfast mainline to the north and Wexford mainline to the south and joined the Harcourt Street line at Shanganagh Junction. The scenic views from the railway over Dublin Bay at this point have been compared to those on the Gulf of Naples and have resulted in trips to Killiney Hill and Greystones along the line becoming tourist attractions.

Prior to electrification in 1984, the line was operated using 1950s-era CIÉ 2600 Class rail cars which had been converted in the early 1970s to push-pull operation. These diesel-powered trains were powered by a CIE 201 Class locomotive, with a driving trailer carriage on the other end. This service was notoriously uncomfortable, unreliable, and overcrowded.

By the late 1970s, the need for an urgent upgrade to the system had become apparent, as the 2600 Class railcars were in poor condition. Replacement parts had become difficult to obtain due to the age of the rolling stock and its conversion to push-pull operation, which had been intended as a temporary measure until a more permanent solution could be established, had come to the end of its serviceable life.

In conjunction with electrification, three new stations at Sandymount, Booterstown and Salthill and Monkstown were added to the network in 1984. Sandymount and Booterstown were each built at the sites of a previous station while Salthill and Monkstown were built near the site of the original Kingstown railway terminus, between Seapoint and Dún Laoghaire. As electrification work was undertaken from 1981-1982, a spur which had served the ferry port at Dún Laoghaire was disconnected from the mainline as the installation of overhead power lines to service the harbour would have necessitated the lowering of the track which travelled through a portal south of Dún Laoghaire station.

Early DART services ran from the north-eastern suburb of Howth, through Connolly, Tara Street, and Pearse stations in the city centre and on to Bray, which lies on the border between Dublin and Wicklow. This route remained unchanged for almost sixteen years until the line between Bray and Greystones was electrified. Further electrification of the line took place between Howth Junction & Donaghmede and Malahide, the northernmost DART station, on the Belfast mainline.

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Overview

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Other Name(s): DART

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Status: Active

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Owner: Iarnród Éireann

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Locale: Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Termini:

Malahide/Howth

Bray/Greystones

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Stations: 31

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Service Type: Commuter Rail

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Services: 2

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Operator(s): Iarnród Éireann

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Depot(s): Fairview DART depot

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Rolling Stock: 8100 Class

8500, 8510 and 8520 Classes

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Ridership: Approx. 102,000 per day (2018)

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Opened: 23 July 1984

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Last Extension: 10 April 2000 (to Malahide and Greystones)

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Line Length: 53 km (33 mi)

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Number of Tracks: 1-2

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Track Gauge: 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Electrification: 1,500 V DC overhead catenary

Dublin Area Rapid Transit Operating Speed: 100 km/h (62 mph)