Great news for daily commuters to Kildare and Meath after the DART+ expansion to Maynooth and M3 Parkway/Bennetstown has been cleared to proceed. After legal challenges were withdrawn in the high court, this welcome addition to the commuter network will now move on to it’s next phase.
Why this matters
The expansion will host of meaningful benefits that will transform the daily commute for thousands. A full electric service promises cleaner and quieter journeys with significantly reduced emissions that will help Ireland reach sustainability targets. Commuters can rely on an increased frequency of service of trains rising from six to twelve per hour in each direction. Peak capacity is set to almost triple from 5,000 to over 13,000 passengers per hour per direction. This will ease passenger comfort and ease crowding on services. The most exciting aspect is the expansion will bring more communities within a high-frequency rail network as the DART coverage will grow from 53km to an impressive 150k.
What’s next?
- Subject to funding: Contracts could be awarded by the end of 2026/early 2027 with major work envisaged to start soon after. This has been accelerate now challenges are resolved.
- New carriages: 185 carriages are on order with the option to scale to 750 with the first units beginning commissioning soon.
- Upgrades to existing stations: Spencer Dock and Connolly will receive upgrades in anticipation of the expansion. A new Preston Street entrance to Connolly station will improve access to the station.
What this means for users?
The DART+ West expansion will significantly enhance daily life for communities across Kildare and Meath. Commuting will become faster and more convenient, with journey times from Dublin City centre reduced to just 30-35 minutes. Increased train frequency means shorter waits and greater flexibility, making daily travel smoother and dependable. These upgrades are expected to boost eco-friendly tourism as it will open up Kildare and Meath with their heritage trails and scenic countryside. The expansion will offer a much needed reliable alternative for car travel that will help ease congestion on the main M4 and M3 motorways. This will ease pressure on road infrastructure and cut harmful emissions.
What you should know
- The two High Court objections were cleared as of June 23rd 2025 when two businesses that had cited potential disruptions and planning concerns withdrew their challenges.
- The funding for the project is under the National Development Plan’s upcoming review with government support increasing in light of resolved planning.
- Construction work including earthworks and electrification is targeting a late 2026/early 2027 tentative start date.
In summary
The legal hurdles faced by the plan coming to an end means the plan can now move forward to provide a much needed network for these communities travelling to the capital for work and for leisure. With multi-modal commuting on the rise, this addition will make every day travel for users more efficient, reduce traffic stress and help lower our overall emissions.
