Four North: FAQ and Key Messages
FAQs
FourNorth is a major rail infrastructure project proposing additional rail tracks to address a critical capacity bottleneck on the Northern Line between Dublin Connolly and Malahide. This is the busiest section of Ireland’s rail network and a critical part of the Dublin to Belfast corridor.
FourNorth is being developed to address a critical capacity bottleneck on the Northern Line and improve how the railway operates now and into the future. By increasing rail capacity and allowing faster and stopping services to operate separately, FourNorth would support more frequent and reliable services and provide greater flexibility to keep trains moving during disruption. It would also strengthen connectivity along the Dublin to Belfast corridor and support future rail investment across the network.
The FourNorth study area focuses on the Northern Line between Dublin Connolly and Malahide. Improvements would support rail services across the wider Dublin to Belfast route, benefiting local, regional, national and cross-border connectivity.
FourNorth aims to bring a range of benefits, including:
- Increasing rail capacity, creating space for more trains and more passengers
- Supporting more frequent trains with faster services for more predictable journeys, including at peak times
- Improving reliability of services, with greater flexibility to keep trains moving during incidents, disruption and maintenance works
- Providing more choice, comfort and a better travel experience for passengers on trains and at stations
- Unlocking potential to support future rail investment, including projects identified in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, and complementing planned public transport improvements across the wider network
- Strengthening connectivity along the Dublin to Belfast route, supporting stronger links between the island’s two largest cities and communities along the corridor
- Connecting people to jobs, education, services and housing, supporting sustainable development and economic growth
- Encouraging more sustainable transport choices, helping to reduce car dependency and support Ireland’s decarbonisation targets
The FourNorth project team is identifying an Emerging Preferred Option and developing a concept design for the project. The Emerging Preferred Option will be identified through a structured, step-by-step assessment process, where a range of potential options are considered and evaluated to identify which is best able to meet the project's objectives.
An Emerging Preferred Option is not the final design. It is the option being presented for engagement at public consultation. Feedback received, alongside further technical, environmental and design assessments, will help support the next stage of project development and the confirmation of a Preferred Option for FourNorth.
FourNorth is being developed and delivered by Iarnród Éireann. The Department of Transport is the approving authority for the project at this stage.
The current phase of FourNorth is being funded through the European Union Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme in collaboration with the Department of Transport.
Funding arrangements for future phases will be considered as the project develops and assessed as part of the Preliminary Business Case. FourNorth will need to secure the necessary approvals and funding as it progresses through each stage of development.
Yes. FourNorth supports local, national, regional and European policy objectives for sustainable transport, improved connectivity and increased rail capacity. Shaped by the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, FourNorth aims to address a critical bottleneck by increasing capacity on the Northern Line, part of the Dublin to Belfast corridor.
It also aligns with the EU TEN-T Regulation, supporting a higher-performing European transport corridor that strengthens cross-border connectivity. By increasing capacity on this critical route, FourNorth would also help unlock the potential for future rail investment, including a rail connection to Dublin Airport, a future DART+ Tunnel to Heuston Station, and a M1-aligned rail corridor.
FourNorth is at an early stage of development. Before construction could begin, the project must complete the option selection process, secure planning approval and funding, and go through the necessary design, environmental and procurement processes.
Construction can only begin if approval is granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála through a Railway Order, funding is allocated, and a contractor is appointed through the procurement process. For a project of this scale, the entire process can take several years.
