Transport | Electrification of the Maynooth rail line

To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update in respect of the timeline for the electrification of the Maynooth rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

A Railway Order for the DART+ West project serving Maynooth was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on 29th July 2022. The statutory consultation period commenced in early August, and ended on 28th October 2022.

The determination of the Railway Order application for the DART+ West project is now a matter for an Bord Pleanála.   As part of this process, An Bord Pleanála may, at its discretion, hold an oral hearing into the application for a railway order – no notification has yet been received for an oral hearing.   

While the NTA is unable to be definitive, it is currently envisaged that An Bord Pleanála will reach a determination on the Railway Order application by end of the current year 2023. Depending on the determination, the construction works would then be expected to commence in 2025.