The East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects (ECRIPP) are now moving into their second round of public consultation, with proposals open for feedback until October 13.

The programme, led by Iarnród Éireann and funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority, focuses on delivering long-term coastal protection works along key sections of the Dublin to Rosslare railway line. The project is also supported by the EU's Connecting Europe Facility fund.

The Dublin to Wicklow section of the line carries DART, Gorey commuter and Rosslare Europort Intercity services, but in recent years it has become increasingly exposed to coastal erosion, flooding, and wave overtopping. In some areas, up to 30 metres of coastline has been lost in the past decade, leaving the railway vulnerable to further damage and disruption. This has already led to significant maintenance requirements and poses risks for service reliability.

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ECRIPP will deliver engineering solutions to protect five priority 'Coastal Cell Areas' where the line is most at risk:

• Merrion Gates to Seapoint Beach;

• Whiterock Beach to South Killiney;

• Bray Head to Greystones North Beach;

• Kilcoole to Newcastle;

• Newcastle to Wicklow Murrough.

Each scheme has been developed to address site-specific hazards, including erosion, flooding and cliff instability, and will progress as a separate planning application. The current consultation presents the preferred option for each section, with feedback invited from communities and stakeholders along the route to inform final design development.

Eoin Gillard, Assistant Director – Transport Investment at the National Transport Authority, said: "The East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects represent vital investments in safeguarding Ireland's transport network against the growing impacts of climate change. This ambitious programme is key to protecting our rail infrastructure and ensure the resilience of services for communities along the eastern corridor. We encourage everyone to engage with the public consultation."

Jim Meade, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, added: "The threat of climate change is real for all of us, but for us in the railway it presents unique challenges, particularly on the eastern coastal route. ECRIPP will provide infrastructure protection works that will futureproof this section of the railway for generations to come, but to provide the best possible solution we want to hear from our neighbours and those that enjoy the coastal amenities along this route and I would urge as many people as possible to give us their feedback."

Further information and details on the consultation are available at www.irishrail.ie/ECRIPP