Irish Rail to double Dublin-Malahide tracks

Ireland's state-owned rail operator has announced a major infrastructure program to double the number of tracks on the country's busiest rail corridor, a project aimed at alleviating chronic congestion and unlocking future service growth. The FourNorth program, announced on July 24, 2026, proposes expanding the existing two-track railway between Dublin Connolly and Malahide stations into a four-track line.

The 14-kilometer corridor is a critical bottleneck, currently shared by northside DART, Northern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise, and freight services. Officials stated that even minor disruptions on this stretch cause delays that ripple across the wider network, particularly during peak travel periods. The expansion is intended to increase capacity, improve reliability, and allow for more frequent services, ultimately strengthening connections between north Dublin, Meath, Louth, and Belfast.

The project is currently in the early design and option development phase. A public consultation to help shape the emerging design and determine the exact route is scheduled to begin later this year. The program builds on recommendations from the 2024 All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which...