Dublin – The Woodbrook DART Station, the first new addition to Ireland’s rail network in 15 years, officially opened to passengers yesterday morning.
Situated between Shankill in south Dublin and Bray in Co Wicklow, the station becomes the 147th on the Iarnród Éireann network. It will offer up to 191 daily services and provide a 40-minute journey time to Dublin city centre.
The station is strategically located in the heart of a growing residential area, where approximately 2,300 new homes are planned.
Transport Planning to Match Housing Growth
Iarnród Éireann’s Head of Communications, Barry Kenny, described the station’s opening as “a positive delivery of public transport planning.” Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said:
“This is an example of delivering public transport as communities develop and grow. Several new housing developments are being built in the area, and they will be directly served by this DART station.”
Kenny also acknowledged that overall DART capacity in the Greater Dublin Area needs to be expanded, noting ongoing investment to double capacity across the network.
Community and Connectivity
The opening of Woodbrook Station is expected to improve commuter access for both existing and future residents, while also easing congestion on nearby routes. It reflects a growing focus on integrating sustainable transport infrastructure with new housing developments.
In a social media post announcing the opening, Iarnród Éireann celebrated the milestone:
“First DART stops at our newest station, Woodbrook, NOW OPEN! Up to 191 daily services, 40 minutes to city centre, at the heart of new developments which will deliver c. 2,300 new homes.”
