THERE is confusion over a vital transport project for Co Kildare.
Irish Rail applied for planning permission to An Coimisiún Pleanála for a new rail depot between Maynooth and Kilcock, the purpose of which was to act as a siding to remove trains from the main line for maintenance as part of the Dart+ project..
However, An Coimisiún Pleanála refused the application on the basis that the proposed location was situated within a flood plain, and Irish Rail was requested to investigate and identify a more suitable alternative site.
New site
A new site is now being examined to the west of Kilcock, which is not prone to flooding, and Irish Rail intends to submit a planning application for this alternative depot site in early 2026.
As the proposed depot would be located beyond Kilcock, the rail line will need to be electrified as far as the depot to allow DART services to operate and be maintained there.
Irish Rail will therefore apply for Kilcock to be formally included in the DART+ West project.
Once construction on DART+ West commences, Kilcock will be included as part of the electrified network.
Investment
The existing single-track line to Kilcock does not require expansion to two or four tracks, and electrification alone is sufficient.
Once electrified, the line can support a service frequency of up to one train every 15 minutes.
Naas councillor Bill Clear noted it is a purely technical matter arising from flood-risk constraints at the originally proposed depot site.
“Investment in public transport is the only proven way to reduce congestion, as demonstrated internationally,” said Cllr Clear.
“With Kildare now the fastest-growing county in the State, it is essential that both DART+ West and DART+ Southwest proceed without further delay.
“We were promised these projects by government candidates and we cannot afford for these projects to be shelved,” he said.
Sidelined
When this project got the green light it was expected to also extend the DART network as far out as Naas, but this has been sidelined until at least 2027.
Approximately 15kms of track between Hazelhatch and Heuston will have to be electrified.
