Wedoany.com Report-Nov 15, On 13 November 2024, Iarnród Éireann showcased the first five-carriage train of its new DART+ fleet at Inchicore Works in Dublin.

The new fleet comprises 37 trains ordered from Alstom, with the option to expand up to 150 new trains over the next decade. These trains are expected to enter service starting in early 2026. Funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under Project Ireland 2040, this acquisition is a key component of the DART+ Programme, which aims to double capacity and triple the electrification of the region's rail network.

Of the carriages on order, 31 are battery-electric units (BEMUs) designed to increase capacity ahead of line electrification. The remaining 6 are electric-only (EMUs). The first trains will operate on the Drogheda to Dublin commuter route, with recharging facilities currently under construction at Drogheda Station.

The DART+ Programme aligns with the NTA's Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy for 2022-2042. It focuses on supporting sustainable mobility and development in Dublin and surrounding counties through fleet improvements and infrastructure projects. Iarnród Éireann is delivering the programme on behalf of the NTA.

As the first train in this new fleet, the carriages will now undergo regulatory approval, testing, and commissioning at Inchicore Works and across the Greater Dublin Area rail network. The goal is to have them operational by early 2026.

Each 10-carriage train, formed by coupling two five-carriage sets, will be the longest train operable by the new fleet on the current infrastructure, accommodating at least 1,100 passengers. Additional carriages will arrive over the coming months, with each set undergoing the necessary testing and commissioning before entering service.