Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) has unveiled the first five-carriage Alstom-built X’trapolis train for Ireland’s new DART+ fleet at Inchicore Works in Dublin.
Invited guests boarded the new train in its commissioning facility to get a glimpse of a new DART+ fleet which will enable Irish Rail to improve the customer experience across the Greater Dublin Area, including capacity, accessibility and customer information.
The train is the first of 185 carriages already on order from Alstom, and entering service from 2026 onwards. The trains were purchased in two orders as part of a framework agreement which provides for up to 750 electric and battery-electric carriages over a ten-year period.
The fleet orders, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under Project Ireland 2040, are part of the wider DART+ Programme. This involves a series of infrastructure projects which, together with train orders from Alstom, will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area’s rail network. The first trains will operate on the Drogheda to Dublin Commuter route, with recharging facilities – also being provided by Alstom – at Drogheda railway station.
“The arrival of the first DART+ train in the new depot at Inchicore marks a significant moment not only for Alstom but for Ireland’s exemplary journey towards a more sustainable future. Furthermore, it is a testament to our commitment in supporting Ireland’s ambitious carbon reduction targets by delivering cleaner, smarter and more efficient trains to serve passengers across Greater Dublin and beyond,” said Gian Luca Erbacci, Europe Region President at Alstom.
He added: “This train embodies cutting-edge technology and innovation, as a total of 155 out of the 185 carriages on order are battery-electric. We are really proud to be taking part in the transition to greener mobility in Ireland.”
The arrival of the new fleet, manufactured at Alstom’s Chorzów facility near Katowice in Poland, marks a significant milestone in Irish Rail’s journey to become the backbone of the sustainable transport network in Ireland.
Largest order in Irish history
The carriages are the first part of the largest and most sustainable public transport fleet order in Irish history and, once operational, will further improve network accessibility and customer experience by offering:
- Independent access with low-floor height doorway being equipped with an automatic retractable step, offering the potential for unassisted level access from suitable platforms, aligned with platform enhancements.
- Wide gangways between carriages creating an open and spacious environment.
- Improved facilities for wheelchair users, families and cyclists, with dedicated wheelchair and family spaces.
- Transformed customer information systems on-board including large, high-resolution onboard displays with real-time updates, door illumination and additional features designed for the needs of sensory impaired customers including inductive hearing loops.
- An advanced on-board CCTV system with cameras throughout every carriage, to enhance safety and security for customers and employees.
As the first train in a brand new fleet on the Irish Rail network, the carriages will now begin a rigorous regulatory approval, and testing and commissioning process, at Inchicore Works and on the Greater Dublin Area rail network, before entering service in 2026.
“We are thrilled to unveil the first of the new DART+ fleet today, a critical step in our vision to see a decarbonised rail network. Our vision at Iarnród Éireann is for rail to be the backbone of a sustainable transport system, integrating with all modes to create ease of connection between people and places. It is about quality of life, delivering a fully accessible transport system for all, one that is flexible, frequent, faster, friendly, fairly priced, feasible to deliver, fully accessible and freer of carbon,” said Jim Meade, CEO at Iarnród Éireann.
Each ten-carriage train, made up of two of these five car train sets joined, will be the longest train size operable by the new fleet on current infrastructure, and will have capacity for at least 1,100 customers.
More carriages will arrive steadily over the coming months, with each set undergoing the testing and commissioning process.
The DART+ fleet
The new DART+ fleet will be able to deliver off-wire operation through the incorporation of battery-electric technology, enabling new services and new capacity to be provided in the Greater Dublin Area in advance of electrification. Energy stored in the battery system will be replenished via fast charging stations at chosen terminus locations and by recovering braking energy while the new battery-electric trainsets are on the move. This will enable, for example, the new battery-electric fleet to deliver Dublin to Drogheda return services, made possible by Alstom’s fast charging infrastructure at Drogheda railway station.
“The DART+ Programme represents a transformative investment in the Greater Dublin Area’s rail network. With the unveiling of the first five-carriage train in the new DART+ fleet today, we are taking a significant step towards a more sustainable, accessible and comfortable public transport for our passengers. I look forward to seeing the fleet rolled out across the network, further transforming public transport services for communities in the region,” said Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority.
The initial 185-carriage orders will benefit a number of routes:
- Sixty-five new battery-electric carriages will be deployed first on Drogheda to Dublin Northern Commuter services.
- New electric carriages will be deployed on existing Malahide/Howth to Bray/Greystones DART services, allowing all services to be operated at maximum length.
- The further 90 battery-electric carriages ordered in December 2022 will facilitate the overall DART+ network, with potential to use them on other parts of the rail network in advance of wider electrification, subject to available funding for necessary infrastructure.
- Introduction of the new fleet will also free up existing carriages to increase capacity on other Commuter and Intercity services.
In addition to the fleet, Alstom will provide a technical support and spares supply agreement (TSSSA) for the first 15 years of the fleet’s operation, and supply three train simulators to aid driver training.
The X’trapolis trains for DART+ are part of Alstom’s Adessia commuter rail portfolio, designed to support urban ecosystems all over the world. The wide range of solutions also includes Adessia Stream B and Steam H trains for non-electrified lines, using battery energy supply and hydrogen power respectively for electrical traction.
DART+ fleet statistics (per five-carriage train)
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Speed 145 km/h Length 82 m (same as existing four-car DART service) Battery capacity 840 kWh Battery range up to 80 km Pantographs Two Doors Eight Total capacity 551 Seats – 184
Priority seats – 20
Standing – 347
Dedicated wheelchair spaces Two, with significant further capacity in vestibule areas Bike stowage areas Two (accommodating six bikes) Family areas Two
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