Yes, it looks as if this massively delayed (and hugely expensive) project is to be partially commissioned over the October bank holiday weekend. It will provide some modest new operational flexibility, notably the ability to turn-back trains at Kilbarrack southbound, Raheny northbound or southbound, Bayside southbound and Clongriffin southbound. Probably the most useful feature will be the commissioning of a 3rd platform at Clongriffin (northbound) which will allow DARTs recess for faster traffic and thus provide some compensation for the dis-functional layout at Malahide. The next most useful feature would have been the commissioning of the 4th platform at Clongriffin but this has been dropped presumably to save money.
The main benefit of the scheme should be improved reliabilty but whether this is the case or not remains to be seen.
It would be interesting to know the additional costs incurred as a result of the the delay which to a large extent have been due to the intervention of the regulatory authorities.
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