Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) - DART Operations - BDublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) - B DART Operations The DART service is operated by a mixed fleet of electric multiple unit trains. As of 2019, the trains run every ten minutes on weekdays with a reduced service on weekends. Trains north of Howth Junction are split between Howth and Malahide while the Malahide service is supplemented by Northern Commuter trains. Trains are typically run as four-car, six-car or eight-car sets during the 07.00-09.30 and 17.00-19.00 weekday peak periods. Capacity is reduced during off-peak periods and at weekends, with up to four eight-car sets running. Four-car sets typically consist of a single 8500 Class unit while six-car sets are made up of three 8100 Class units. Eight-car sets can be made up of either two 8500 Class or four 8100 Class units. Both classes had worked in tandem prior to the refurbishment of the ageing 8100 Class in 2007, after which both have been run separately. Forty two-car 8100 Class units were purchased to run the initial network. Two of these were damaged beyond repair in a depot fire in 2001. Expanding passenger numbers and the need to refurbish the ageing 8100 Class units saw the purchase of four 8500 Class train sets in 2000. These were complemented with three 8510 Class sets in 2001 and ten 8520 Class sets in 2003 and 2004. The now-withdrawn 8200 Class sets which were first run in 2000 operated until 2008 at which point they were retired from revenue service and decommissioned due to longstanding technical issues. A redevelopment of the network's stations was undertaken between 2003 and 2005 to lengthen platforms to accommodate eight-car sets, upgrade the power grid, and improve accessibility for disabled passengers. Dublin Area Rapid Transit Service All trains in the Dublin suburban area, including DART services, are monitored and regulated by a Central Traffic Control (CTC) facility located in Connolly Station, known as Suburban CTC. This facility has been extensively automated and requires a staff of five, two signallers, one with responsibility for level crossings, an electrical control officer, who supervises the electrical power supply equipment and an overall supervisor. The main CTC is staffed at all times however, there are also backup local control rooms which allow services to continue in the event of serious technical problems. A single driver is responsible for the management of each train from the cab in the leading carriage. Automatic doors are controlled by the driver and are armed upon arrival at stations. Real-time passenger information displays on station platforms offer passengers updates on the next train arrival times, service updates and outages. Automatic PA announcements are made in case of service disruptions and are tailored to each station. The majority of stations on the network have been renovated to include automatic barriers which require passengers to submit their tickets for verification before they can set foot on the platform. A ticket is required in advance of boarding DART services and can be purchased at stations from staffed kiosks and automated machines. Passengers can also avail of the option of using a Leap Card, Dublin's integrated ticketing scheme. Leap cards are offered as contactless cards onto which passengers can load set ticket options or a cash balance. Leap fares are typically cheaper than paying in cash for a journey. On the DART network, users tag on at their point of entry and tag off at their exit point. Irish Rail, along with Dublin's other public transport operators operated its own smart card system which was phased out to coincide with the Leap Card's introduction. Revenue protection officers check passengers' tickets to ensure validity both onboard trains and on station platforms at random intervals. 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) | |||||
| |||||
