Plans for a new €350 million rail system for people commuting into Dublin - mainly from west Dublin and Kildare as well as Portlaoise, Carlow and Athlone - have been unveiled by Iarnród Éireann.
As the largest project embarked on under the national railway investment programme, it will more than treble capacity for commuters travelling along the Kildare route into Heuston Station.
Iarnród Éireann claims it has the potential to generate up to seven million additional passenger journeys on the route every year. When completed, in 2009, there will be a train every 15 minutes at peak times, it says.
However, it has also acknowledged there will be "unavoidable disruption to existing services to and from Heuston station at certain times". While it will attempt to minimise this disruption, the full extent will be confirmed following a public inquiry and detailed design work.
Under the plans Cherry Orchard station will be relocated to Parkwest. Similarly, Clondalkin station will be relocated to Fonthill Road. Hazelhatch will be upgraded, while new stations will also be built at Kishoge and Adamstown.
The number of tracks will increase from two to four from Cherry Orchard to a point west of Hazelhatch. Two dedicated lines will be provided for commuter services, and two separate lines for intercity and regional services.
Daily capacity in each direction on intercity routes will be steadily increased from 11,050 commuters to 36,400. It is envisaged that some of the routes eventually will be electrified to allow Dart trains to operate. However, the project may require some 75 acres of land to be bought along the route.
Under a railway order published by Iarnród Éireann this week, the full plans are on display at 12 locations for 28 days.
The public has then 14 days to submit its views to Minister for Transport Martin Cullen. Following a public inquiry next year, Mr Cullen will rule on the final scope of the project, and on compulsory purchase order powers.