New accessible Darts will ‘finally let me travel spontaneously’, says Dublin teen

The 18-year-old Dubliner, also known as Jimbo’s Accessible Adventures on social media, says he will “finally be able to travel spontaneously” when new accessible carriages arrive next year.

Currently, people who require a ramp to access a Dart must ring Irish Rail at least a day in advance to ask for assistance.

But the new Dart+ trains will have new accessible ramps that can automatically lower each time the doors open.

In total, there will be 37 new trains to serve the Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Drogheda lines which are set to become operational in late 2025, with plans to expand nationwide in the next decade.

The wider trains will carry 550 passengers and include more space for wheelchairs, buggies, and bicycles.

The spacious carriages have multiple wider seats which fold up and down, similar to the Luas, giving those with mobility issues, people with buggies and those with bikes more space to move around onboard.

Lucan lad James is delighted with this as it will “improve the quality” of his life.

“They’re so much better because obviously you don’t need a ramp and I’m able to use my full independence,” he told the Irish Independent.

“You don’t need to rely on a staff member to put the ramp down. It’s a struggle now, there’s no spontaneous travel. It gives equality on public transport as well.

“It’s very hard because you’ve to ring a day or two in advance to book the train. It puts people off travelling, that’s another part of it.

“This is an improvement on the quality of life. I’ll finally be able to do spontaneous travel, if I was going to Bray I can just go to Bray, I don’t need to rely on any people, I can just go. The same with Howth and other places.

“I can’t do spontaneous trips now, that’s the frustrating part. There’s a lot of planning now.

“It’s really hard to organise, because there’s no staff at the weekends and it’s really hard to organise assistance. I’m a bit anxious sometimes,” he added.

Independent Living Movement Ireland have also “applauded” Irish Rail’s commitment to accessibility as it “welcomes this initiative wholeheartedly”.

The organisation described it as a “tangible investment in real inclusion and a step in the right direction for public transportation in Ireland”.

Chairperson Des Kenny said the accessibility features are a gamechanger for the disability community as “the ramps that automatically deploy at every train station marks a significant step forward”.

“For too long, disabled people have faced barriers when attempting to utilise public transportation, often having to navigate cumbersome processes or rely on assistance that is not readily available,” Mr Kenny said.

“The announcement from Irish Rail represents a significant leap forward in our journey towards true accessibility and inclusivity in public transportation.

“By integrating automatic ramps into their new train fleet, Irish Rail is not just opening doors; they’re dismantling barriers and paving the way for a future where all disabled people can travel with dignity and independence.”

The ILMI believe that “Irish Rail is setting a commendable example for other modes of public transport to follow by prioritising accessibility”.

Overall, they are hopeful that this commitment to accessibility will extend beyond Irish Rail’s new train fleet and become the standard for all future transportation initiatives.