Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) reports that with passenger growth running at between 8% and 10% a year it is struggling to provide sufficient capacity in peak times. A strategy for increasing the size of its train fleet is now being developed.
The company says its electric DART fleet, which operates in the Dublin area, is now operating with six- or eight-car formations all day, with services running at 10-minute intervals. A fleet availability of 85% is required.
IÉ has reached agreement with the National Transport Authority to begin a procurement process for new trains. A number of trains will be bi-mode and there will be provision for operation under both 1.5kV DC and 25kV AC electrification. The initial NTA framework envisages a spend of €600 million on 300 new DART vehicles over the next 10 years, with a further €100 million for a new DART depot in the Maynooth / Enfield area and the expectation that routes to Maynooth, Drogheda and Hazelhatch will be electrified, probably at 25kV AC. The use of bi-mode trains will allow for introduction ahead of any electrification and will enable services to run beyond the core DART network.
Initial discussions suggest that the new sets will be formed of 4x20m/21m…
