More than \u20ac35 million has been spent on Dart+ South West to date, despite construction not due to begin on the project until 2030. <\/p>\n
Figures released by the Department of Transport<\/a> show \u20ac28 million has been spent on service providers and programme management contracts, \u20ac5.6 million on project management and \u20ac1.6 million on lookouts, property, legal and railway order costs. <\/p>\n Dart+ South West, which would bring Dart services to Celbridge and Hazelhatch in Co Kildare, was granted planning permission in November 2024, with construction expected to start this year. <\/p>\n However, the National Development Plan<\/a> (NDP) review, published last November, gave a construction date of \u201c2030+\u201d with the procurement timeline set for \u201c2028-2029\u201d. The review set the cost of the project at more than \u20ac1 billion.<\/p>\n The line would see a quadrupling of passenger capacity from 5,000 to 20,000 each way during peak hours. This would cater for a rapidly increasing commuter population in large new housing developments planned for west Dublin and north Kildare.<\/p>\n The upgrade will see the electrification of 20km of the line from Hazelhatch and Celbridge to Heuston, as well as the Phoenix Park tunnel branch line. The line capacity would be increased from two tracks to four between Park West and Cherry Orchard stations. In addition, two new stations would be constructed: Heuston West (close to Islandbridge) and Kylemore, which would serve Ballyfermot.<\/p>\n Sinn F\u00e9in TD Eoin \u00d3 Broin<\/a> described the delay of the project as \u201cincredibly frustrating\u201d and said traffic in areas such as Lucan and Clondalkin had \u201creached a level of density I\u2019ve never witnessed\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a project for which there\u2019s been planning for a very long time. There have been no legal challenges and there is a huge public demand and indeed need for this project to go ahead as a matter of urgency,\u201d the Dublin Mid-West TD said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe train line runs through two strategic development zones, Clonburris and Adamstown, and while there isn\u2019t enough housing being built, particularly new social affordable homes, along this stretch of rail line there has been significant residential development.\u201d <\/p>\n