Arup will upgrade Dublin Area Rapid Transit Coastal railway network. Credit: Arup.

UK-based engineering and design company Arup has secured a contract from Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) to upgrade the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) Coastal lines.

The upgrade of the network will be carried out as part of the Dart+ Programme, which involves a series of major infrastructure expansion projects.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

This will create an approximately 150km rail network and triple Dublin’s city and commuter lines.

The DART Coastal line expansion, which connects the existing lines, aims to reduce dependency on private car usage and supports the sustainability goals of the country by providing an efficient public transport network.

The DART network currently connects the city centre and surrounding coastal areas covering 50km from Malahide/Howth in north County Dublin to Greystones in County Wicklow.

The upgrade work involves an extension of rail line electrification from Dublin city centre to Drogheda in County Louth, and improvements along the existing south-eastern DART line to Greystones in County Wicklow.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Under the contract, Arup’s multidisciplinary team of rail, civil, structural, bridge, traffic and transport engineers, environmental consultants and digital advisers will design and upgrade 80km of the new rail connections.

Arup director Peter Adams said: “This is rail’s time: as a user-friendly and sustainable travel mode, DART+ unlocks the potential for rail to become the key to Ireland’s sustainable mobility.

“Our multidisciplinary team is passionate about creating an efficient and seamless passenger experience.”

Scheduled to begin early this year, the design and planning phase will extend for three years to 2024 while the tendering and construction work of the railway line is scheduled to last until 2027.

Railway Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Railway Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
Winning the Innovation Award in the Reservation Systems category, EAO’s advanced seat reservation system tackles urbanisation and rising mobility demands head on. Explore how its adaptable HMI, modular design and energy saving display technology help operators boost capacity utilisation and improve the passenger experience.

Discover the Impact