Strategic Alignment
Policy context
Four North strongly aligns with international, national and local strategies and policies, supporting Ireland’s climate, connectivity and sustainable growth goals.
The All‑Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) | Four North addresses the capacity bottleneck on the Dublin–Belfast corridor, which limits speed and frequency. It provides for future enhancements identified in the AISRR, including improved cross‑border travel, a potential airport link to Dublin Airport and the long-term ambition for a future DART+ tunnel in Dublin linking the Northern Line with Heuston Station.
Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy 2025 | The Dublin Connolly to Clongriffin/Malahide corridor within the Four North study area is identified as a major project in this strategy for improved line capacity and speed to enable higher frequency and faster journeys, deliver improved reliability and remove bottlenecks.
Programme for Government 2025 | Four North supports Government commitments to better public transport through improved track capacity, higher line speeds and enhanced frequency of Commuter and Intercity services, strengthening Ireland’s connectivity in line with AISRR and NDP recommendations.
The National Development Plan (Project Ireland 2040) | Four North aligns with strategic investment priorities for inter‑urban connectivity and decarbonisation by delivering higher‑capacity, higher‑quality rail services and more reliable journeys.
The NTA’s Greater Dublin Area (GDA) Transport Strategy 2022-2042 | Four North supports a modal shift to public transport and improves integration across the wider network, strengthening access within and to the GDA and the Dublin–Belfast corridor.
Climate Action Plan | Four North supports Ireland’s transport emissions reduction targets providing opportunity for more public transport journeys and shifting demand from private car to rail on a key corridor,
The EU TEN‑T Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 | Four North improves performance on a core European transport corridor through increased rail capacity and reliability in line with TEN‑T requirements for high‑performing, resilient rail. It also helps create the long‑term conditions for airport rail access set out in the Regulation.
Together, these policies and strategies point to the same outcome: a higher‑quality rail network with the capacity and resilience people need for the future.
