As per the original text, the first day of operation for the new electric rail service known as Dart by CIÉ was on July 24th, 1984. The system attracted a steady stream of travellers throughout the day. A large fraction of them comprised of curious onlookers, while there were others who took advantage of this fast transit service to visit the coastline.
It had been an eventful first day, with trains starting their rounds in the wee hours and an estimated 35,000 passengers travelling on these green, boxy carriages despite the limited schedule. The subsequent years saw the Dart become an integral part of Dublin and Wicklow’s transportation landscape, with the overhead wires accentuating the scenic coastal line. The stations along with their staff played pivotal roles in their respective local communities.
Brian Fitzgerald, who embarked on his railway journey in January 1990 at the tender age of 16, recollects meeting his lifelong friend Gareth Walley on his first day at Kilbarrack. Both of them were initially boy porters, responsible for ticket checks, station cleaning, and other necessary tasks. Their job didn’t involve a dining service, but their families made sure to send homemade food via train to keep them well-fed during their shifts.
This close-knit community bond led to some enduring friendships with the regular commuters. Walley even admits to have found his first girlfriend due to his daily presence on the railway platform. In fact, they would be showered with Valentine’s Day cards every year without fail.
Fitzgerald and Walley reminisce about the times they aided individuals travelling to the formerly numerous nightclubs around the northside. They fondly remember watching games on an outdated black and white television at the station as the Italia ’90 mania embraced the country, and how noticeably the introduction of the Dart improved the daily commute for regular travellers.
“There was a connection with the passengers. We ensured they caught their train safely, a matter of trust,” claims Fitzgerald.
Throughout their careers, Fitzgerald and Walley embraced many changes and stepped into various different roles.
“In the pre-electrification era, there was only about one train per hour from Kilbarrack headed towards the city,” said Walley. Fitzgerald chimes in with “Age teaches you to value the Dart’s benefits.”
It brings into focus how crucial it is to have public transport near one’s residence. “Living in Kilbarrack is excellent… we were unknowingly privileged. We overlooked how fortunate we were.”
A busy summer of events and concerts lies ahead and the Dart network will be bustling, but Walley is certain of his crowd management abilities.
“Probe into any crowd control query, I am your guy … I merely glance at the crowd and know whether we require six or eight carriages. Officers regard me as some kind of enchantress, but it’s only because I do it regularly,” he shares.
“For me, managing people is likely one of the toughest tasks there is. It’s simply something you either can or cannot do…I thoroughly enjoy interacting with people. I relish both arriving and departing work with a grin. That’s what matters most.”
Working for the railway was a highly coveted opportunity when they were in their youth.
“Securing such an opportunity as a young gentleman was marvellous,” shares Fitzgerald. Walley fondly recalls, “The pride swelled when I donned my first uniform. I paraded around the entire neighbourhood, gleaming…everyone was aware that I was employed by CIÉ.”
The duo fondly remember their erstwhile bosses as “exceptional mentors”, including one individual who used a code for placing his bets in Raheny; “”Make your way to the church and light a candle.” they would say.
In recent times, an escalation in confrontational behaviour on Dart and public transport in general is observable. Fitzgerald, a worker on the Dart network, maintains that despite the daily encounters, the positive experiences still outweigh the negative ones. There’s a noticeable surge in such behaviour during warm weather when individuals are en route to coastal regions.
Year to date, 294 text notifications of disruptive actions on Dart services and in stations have been submitted, alcohol consumption emerges as the predominant influencing factor. Plethora of incidents including aggression, obscene behaviour and damages related to crime were prominently reported in the first three months of 2024.
Irish Rail is working in tandem with gardaí and their security teams, supplied by the third-party contrator, OCS, to focus their resources on seaside destinations and popular summer events. Since 2016, security resources have seen an increase by 80 per cent, and there are daily security patrols of 30 officers on the Dart network.
The legacy of Fitzgerald and Walley, of caring for the people, still permeates within the new staff members today. Pam Murphy, a trained driver who joined Irish Rail in August 2022, had previously been an embalmer. She sought a permanent change in her career and believes that working at the railway is just right for her. She highlighted her first solo train drive as an accomplishment that left her feeling nervous yet proud. Her work schedule includes running two return trips from Bray or Greystones to Malahide or Howth, with a break in between. All preparations are completed half an hour before the kick-off of the train she operates.
From the driver’s seat, the sight is one that quite a few people have the privilege of witnessing. Murphy states, “On a fine day, it’s breathtaking.” Essentially, the vista opens up on the southward journey as you exit the tunnel in Dalkey, revealing a dramatic panorama.’’
Murphy evidently finds pleasure in her line of work, despite the occasional problematic day due to delayed schedule and train breakdowns that may upset passengers. She observes, “Every day presents its own unique set of circumstances… The weather significantly influences outcomes… Heavy rain, snow, observing the [railway] track in varying weather conditions, especially in the snow, is a sight unseen by many.”
Transitioning into a career that is predominantly male did not deter Murphy. She observes a shift within the company that is striving to hire more women. “The train work environment has drastically transformed. Manual labour isn’t as prevalent as it was previously.”
Barry Kenny, the Manager of Corporate Communications, acknowledges that historically, the railway industry has been skews towards males, hence, achieving gender balance is a critical aspect. He noted a number of schemes aimed at drawing more women, members from the Traveller community, individuals from various ethnic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities into the sector.
On top of conducting the standard checks before setting off in a train, the Irish Rail’s depot houses a small battalion responsible for maintaining the rolling stock. “We perform inspections, akin to a service maintenance undertaken by a car garage,” says Darragh Reidy, the Assistant Manager at Fairview Dart depot, as he stands in front of a carriage under repair that is elevated on four lifts replacing its normal wheels.
The upkeep of the trains is a continuous process, becoming more intense during the busy summer period. “The requirement here is colossal. We need to ensure everything is done and the trains are all prepped for service to accommodate the volume of passengers… we strive to dispatch the train in the best possible condition,” states Reidy.
The Dart+ programme is poised to significantly enhance the passenger capacity of current railways, while extending its reach Northwards to Drogheda in Co Louth; Westwards to M3 Parkway in Bennetstown, Dunboyne, Co Meath; and Co Kildare’s Maynooth and Hazelhatch, with additional expansion planned beyond the present endpoint at Greystones towards Wicklow Town.
Initial planning and development works for these new routes have commenced, including the establishment of charging infrastructure in Drogheda for the forthcoming fleet of battery-powered trains, which will entail an approximate cost of €318 million. Developed in collaboration with French manufacturer Alstom, these vehicles are currently under production near Katowice, Poland, with the inaugural trains anticipated to be delivered and assembled at Dublin’s Inchicore works in the coming year.
Irish Rail is planning to initiate the operation of these new trains during the winter season of 2025-2026 following thorough testing in the preceding months. As per the freshly approved business case from the Government, the estimated total cost of the Dart+ project is projected to be around €3.2 billion, according to Irish Rail’s reports.
Highlighting the programme’s broader implications, Jane Cregan, Irish Rail’s Events and PR Manager, emphasized Dart+’s role in helping the company achieve its environmental objectives and foster a shift from private to public transportation. She further added, “This initiative will enable us to offer more sustainable, cost-effective alternatives compared to the current diesel-run commuting services.”