The DART service from Bray to Howth celebrates its 40th birthday this July 24th. Many of us remember that summer in 1984 when the shiny new electric trains, with automatic doors and the unfamiliar hum of electric motors rolled into Bray through an automated level crossing. The project was heavily criticised at the time, it was described as a ‘white elephant’ that would drain the exchequer but today, nobody could say anything other than it has been a major success.
I started my working life as an apprentice electrician with Irish Rail and spent almost 30 years working on railway signalling and engineering projects mostly on the DART area and all along the east coast from Malahide to Arklow.
In 1998, I was part of the civil and electrical engineering team that extended the DART to Greystones. Our Irish Rail team were supported by an international crew from Norway, Germany, Scotland and Denmark. We had to close the line through large periods in 1998 and worked 24/7 upgrading the signalling system and electrical overheads equipment. Many people didn’t believe the DART was being extended to Greystones, even as they watched from the cliff walk as we drilled and erected the huge overhead supports. The DART to Greystones has been a huge success too. I accept it needs further civil engineering and signalling upgrades to achieve 6 trains per hour but planning is well advanced on delivering that essential increase in frequency and reliability for the growing town.
Right now, we are in the process of another DART extension to Wicklow Town. My experience and understanding of railway engineering has uniquely positioned me to lead politically on this project. Since my time as a councillor, I have convinced the National Transport Authority to agree and proceed with the extension of services to serve Wicklow and Kilcoole. In my 4 years as TD for Wicklow and working with the Minister for Transport this project has significantly advanced. There is a lack of confidence that this is happening, but I am confident that in roughly three years, the people of Wicklow Town and Kilcoole will have an electric DART service.
The economic, societal and environmental benefits of an electric service to Wicklow all stack up. The line will not require overheads like the Greystones extension as we are using battery electric trains, which are ordered. Those trains will arrive in 2026 and be first deployed on the Drogheda section of the line as it was planned well before anyone was fighting for the Wicklow extension. The plan for the electric service to Wicklow, the charging system, the track and platform alterations and the signalling system are all being designed.
Good public transport projects are costly and take time, but they are worth it and I need just three more years to get a reliable and regular electric train to serve Wicklow and Kilcoole. In 2023 there were over 308 million passenger journeys on public transport, in three years Wicklow commuters, students and visitors will significantly add to this figure when they get the DART to Dublin and home again.
Imagine if we listened to those who said don’t build the DART, the LUAS or Bus Connects or any other large public transport project. Imagine if we keep listening or following those that regularly criticise the DART extension to Wicklow and who have never supported my efforts. They are simply on the wrong track, the DART is coming to Wicklow Town.
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