Connecting Dublin Airport to the national railway network via an 8km spur line from Clongriffin would be gamechanger opening new multiple connectivity opportunities within the wider Dublin Region and countrywide, delivering far greater benefits for economy and environment over point to point Metro North. The development of the railway line is supported at EU level and nationally through daa, Fingal County Council and Iarnród Éireann.
Most significantly the European Commission 13 June adopted the Regulation underpinning the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by the European Parliament and the Council. The revised Regulation sets ambitious targets for European transport infrastructure, including all major airports handling over 12 million passengers annually must be connected by long-distance rail, improving passenger connectivity and making rail a competitive alternative to domestic flights.
Recently, the Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) CEO Jim Meade, appearing before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport said that a DART rail service to Dublin Airport would require five years to develop, and he added that the establishment of a DART link would complement the development of a Metro North.
Speaking at a Dublin Airport Business Briefing hosted by Fingal Chamber 20 February, Kenny Jacobs, Chief Executive of daa noted his support for the delivery of Metrolink and a DART rail line to the airport and at this week’s Joint Committee on Transport briefing on Dublin Airport, Kenny reiterated his support for DART link.
The Draft Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029 Chapter 8: Dublin Airport makes specific reference to a heavy railway line, stating “Key future growth enablers identified for Dublin Airport include consideration of heavy rail access to facilitate direct services from the national rail network in the context of potential future electrification.”
Project Ireland 2040 also envisages the potential for an InterCity link to Dublin Airport. The 3 or 4 tracking north of Connolly to Malahide on Belfast Line as outlined in Iarnród Éireann Strategy 2027 document would facilitate high frequency services to city centre.
Image Credit: Iarnród Éireann
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 22 June 2024 All Rights Reserved
