Infheistíocht i Traenacha Nua

D'fhonn tacú le seirbhísí iarnróid atá beartaithe faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2021 go 2030 a leathnú mar chuid de Thionscadal Éireann 2040, agus chun freastal ar an éileamh atá ag dul i méid, tá dhá mhór-ordú flít idir láimhe ag Iarnród Éireann.

Suas le 750 feithicil leictreach / feithicil hibrideach ceallra-leictreach

Chun tacú leis na méaduithe ar an acmhainn bonneagair a sholáthraíonn an clár DART + beidh gá le rothstoc breise.

Bhronn Iarnród Éireann, le tacaíocht ón NTA, an conradh don soláthraí Francach Alstom chun an flít is mó agus is inbhuanaithe i stair iompair phoiblí na hÉireann a sheachadadh i mí na Nollag 2021, do suas le 750 fheithicil faoi thiomáint leictreach / ceallraí thar thréimhse ama 10 mbliana.

Tá dhá ordú de 185 carráiste déanta go dtí seo, comhdhéanta de shé shraith de thraenacha leictreacha traidisiúnta cúig ghluaisteán agus trí shraith déag de thraenacha ceallraí-leictreacha cúig carráiste curtha isteach. Cé go bhfuiltear ag súil go mbeidh formhór na n-orduithe traenach ar thraenacha faoi thiomáint leictreach amháin, ligfidh an t-ordú tosaigh seo d'Iarnród Éireann méadaithe minicíochta agus acmhainne a sheachadadh ar fud an líonra fad a bhíonn an leictriú á chur ar aghaidh,i Mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath agus b'fhéidir i gceantar Comaitéireachta Chorcaí araon.

Chomh maith leis na méaduithe acmhainne a dhéanfar a sheachadadh tríd an gClár DART+ agus an Flít nua DART+ i Mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath, rachaidh carráistí Intercity atá in úsáid faoi láthair ar sheirbhísí Comaitéireachta i bhfeidhm ar theacht na dtraenacha nua faoi chumhacht leictreach chun seirbhísí iarnróid eile a fheabhsú agus a neartú.

Tá sé i gceist orduithe ina dhiaidh sin a chur ar aon dul le seachadadh Chlár DART+, agus ar aon dul leis na ceanglais maidir le hathsholáthar ar an mbunchabhlach DART (ag dáta ó 1984) níos déanaí sa deich mbliana.

I ndeireadh na dála, beidh flít iomlán iarnróid do Mhórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath (GDA) agus suas le 80% de na turais iarnróid throma ar fad in Éirinn, leagtha síos do thodhchaí a d'fhéadfadh a bheith saor ó astaíochtaí.

Is infheistíocht réabhlóideach €2 bhilliún é Clár DART+ faoi Thionscadal Éireann 2040 chun an acmhainn a mhéadú faoi dhó agus leictriú líonra Mhórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath a mhéadú, rud a chiallaíonn go dtabharfar taisteal ar an DART agus na buntáistí ar fad a bhaineann leis do phobail nua agus iad atá ann cheana.

Is féidir leat tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoin gClár foriomlán DART+ agus faoin bhFlít nua DART+ nua ar www.dartplus.ie.

Flít Nua DART

The Department of Transport has funded a third order of new DART carriages. These additional 100 DART carriages will fully replace the original fleet in service since the DART first opened in 1984. This follows two previous orders in recent years for new DART trains, and brings the total Government investment in new electric-powered DART trains to approximately €670 million.

This order for 100 carriages is an investment of €173.9 million, to replace the original DART carriages used on the largely coastal line from Greystones to Malahide/Howth. It complements two previous carriage orders, bringing the number of DART carriages ordered to 285, made up of 57 five-carriage trains. The first order was for 95 new DART carriages, which will enter service mainly on the busy line from Dublin to Drogheda from the first half of 2027. The second order of 90 DART carriages will enter service from 2028.

All of these carriages will provide additional capacity for the Greater Dublin Area rail network as part of the DART+ Programme, in response to record passenger demand. These new trains will increase the capacity and sustainability of rail services, and offer benefits to passengers including significant accessibility improvements; increased bicycle storage; device charging; and enhanced security through CCTV. This will help to transform public transport in the years ahead.

You can learn more about the overall DART+ Programme and the new DART+ Fleet on www.dartplus.ie.

New Enterprise Fleet

Swiss manufacturer Stadler has officially been awarded the contract for a new fleet of eight state-of-the-art Intercity trains for the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service.

This major €698m / £548m cross border investment for new fleet and associated infrastructure, is jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Executive, Department for Infrastructure and the Government of Ireland, Department of Transport, and supported with €165m through PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the European Union, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Due for delivery late 2028, the new Intercity trains – based on Stadler’s proven FLIRT platform - have been purpose designed for the Enterprise route and will deliver a major step change in comfort and customer experience. With around 400 seats, the fleet features include: 

• Accessibility has been prioritised through step free interiors and 100% unaided boarding at every exterior door, making this among the most accessible Intercity fleets in Europe; 
• Enhanced customer facilities including modern digital information systems, power sockets and USB charging points, improved luggage and bike storage; 
• A premium Enterprise Plus section, and a spacious dining and bar area.

The new Enterprise fleet will also be Ireland’s first tri mode trains, capable of operating on electric, diesel, and battery power. This will reduce emissions, enable quieter journeys, and ensure seamless operation as the Belfast–Dublin line transitions toward full electrification.

With improved acceleration and performance of the fleet and associated infrastructure development, this project will support a target express journey time of under two hours.

The trains will also support expansion to up to 16 services per direction daily, strengthening long-term cross-border economic, cultural and social connectivity.

41 carr nua iarnróid

I mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2019, d'fhaomh an Rialtas ordú le haghaidh 41 carr nua iarnróid. Beidh siadsan mar charranna iarnróid den aicme 22000 sa bhreis a chiallaíonn go mbeidh 275 carr iarnróid ann sa bhflít seo.

Is ionann seo agus infheistíocht de €150 milliún.

Thosaigh na cairr iarnróid nua ag dul i mbun seirbhíse ar an ngréasán Comaitéireachta agus Idirchathrach i mí Feabhra 2024, agus bhí siad go léir i mbun seirbhíse faoi dheireadh 2024.