The DART+ Programme will revolutionise travel in the Greater Dublin Area. It will promote multi modal transit, active transport, boost regional connectivity and make public transport the preferred option for more and more people.

AtkinsRéalis – a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group – with joint venture (JV) partners TYPSA and TUC RAIL, and supported by RPS, has been appointed by Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail to provide multi-disciplinary services for the 20km expansion of the DART network’s Kildare Line.

The upgrade forms part of the DART Expansion Programme, which aims to improve train frequency and increase customer capacity for Dublin and the surrounding metropolitan area. The JV will develop the project from concept through to Railway Order stage, providing multi-disciplinary consultancy services including project management, preliminary design of the 20km line upgrade, a thorough public consultation process and preparation of the Railway Order.

For the Kildare Line, the upgrade will include:

• Widening the railway from two to four tracks from Park West Station to Heuston and associated structural works to bridges supporting the track
• Electrification and re-signalling from Hazelhatch to Heuston and through the Phoenix Park Tunnel to Glasnevin junction
• Realignment works to accommodate segregation of DART and Intercity services

AtkinsRéalis is a leader in rail engineering and systems design, working on projects across the world – from Denmark and Sweden’s first high-speed railway lines to the Tung Chung line extension in Hong Kong and Australia’s Inland Rail Programme. In the UK, AtkinsRéalis is also supporting the East Coast Digital Railway Programme.