First look at the new intercity DMU's

popebenny16

Linky:

http://www.platform11.org/news/news.php?year=2007&no=1.html

They look the business.

We have seen the inside of them they look very comfy indeed. We're hoping ride wont be a problem like the CDE's.....

Ford Cortina

Great pics.

As so often on platform11 and boards.ie, "you'll hear it first right hear"

"we'll be back after this important word"

"all hits all the time"

Said with a deep American radio voice

Red Alert

I remain to be convinced on their noise level, but we shall see.

bennyx_o

I've been looking at these come off the ship in work today. Have to say, they look the business. Just on their way out of the docks now. Theres 12 carraiges left (according to tomorrows roster, not sure if that includes what was taken off today) which will be taken off the boat tomorrow.

MarkoP11

6 off today, 6 tomorrow. By all accounts a very complicated set of moves invloves the coaches doing almost the full length of Alexandra Rd on a lorry then back down it by rail.

I've been up close and it looks well put together, there is only one engine per coach and the exhausts are outside not inside as they are in some of the railcars will do wonders for the noise as will the side skirts

Jonny Arson

They do look very nice indeed, that's some step up from those Commuter carriages for the Sligo line!

Transport21 Fan

They look the business alright - very sweet. The livery is stunning. They also have a very solid and heavyweight look about them. Remind me of the DMUs in Sweden in terms of the visual sturdiness and they just glide along the tracks. Can't wait to see these new railcars in operation on the Sligo line. IE will win some passengers back on the route the lost to the 2900's.

I must say my distaste for all things CIE has diminished a lot in the last few months. Between the new trains (plus extra orders), the planned commuter service through the PPT and little things like the Sligo NightRider Service, as well as putting a clever and very useful QBC bus service to the Docklands station...it's like CIE are now really making an effort and starting to succeed to provide real public transport and not just spending money on buses and trains. Even the unions seem to have developed a less hostile approach which is brilliant.

I still prefer the Public/Private model, but if CIE can deliver more of this kind of improvements and integration, then it will be worth saving.

I took an Airlink bus from the Airport to Connolly last week, and the whole package; from the AIRlink livery, graphic maps on the inside and the excellent and clear announcements by the driver, it had a feeling of professionalism and you felt secure and in a competent public transport environment. All that day I took BaC, Luas, DART and IE Inter-City and it all worked beautifully - it was like I had come back to a new Ireland almost.

These trains from a visual standpoint alone seem to push this point home more. CIE is thinking modern and less traditional. Goes to show that things are improving and long may it continue.

Right, I am going back to prostituting myself.

markpb

Transport21 Fan wrote:

the planned commuter service through the PPT

?

bennyx_o

MarkoP11 wrote:

6 off today, 6 tomorrow. By all accounts a very complicated set of moves invloves the coaches doing almost the full length of Alexandra Rd on a lorry then back down it by rail.

Ah right you'd think I'd know that working in the company. I was down on the ship they're on last night and was quote surprised. They're in the hatch of a container ship which has containers and some other sort of machinery on it, too.

Like I said, they do look the business. Very modern looking and the livery suits the design of the carriages. (If you catch my drift) Look forward to seeing more today.

Ham'nd'egger

markpb wrote:

?

I assume he means Phoenix Park Tunnell

OTK

Why will be there different trains running on Cork-Dublin from Sligo-Dublin?
What is the difference between the two lines that they have used different technology?
Will these DMUs go faster than the trains they replace? Do these trains have power sockets? Is there a first class?

I remember a while ago Irish Rail effectively admitted that their on-board food service was rubbish and loss-making. Have they contracted it out to someone else yet?

What's the chance of the good workers in Irish Rail going on strike when the new trains arrive?

markpb

Hamndegger wrote:

I assume he means Phoenix Park Tunnell

I know, I didn't realise they were willing to use it other than for specials.

Zoney

OTK wrote:

Why will be there different trains running on Cork-Dublin from Sligo-Dublin?
What is the difference between the two lines that they have used different technology?

Yes; Cork-Dublin is using new railway carriages, hauled by general purpose locomotives (engines). They can run in either direction (locomotive pushing or pulling the train) as they have a control car (driving van trailer, DVT) on the other end of the train from the locomotive.

The trains on Sligo-Dublin will be these units called "railcars" in Ireland; they are multiple units each with its own engine. As far as I know, these are being used partly because the locomotives used on Cork-Dublin are quite heavy and the Shannon Bridge on the Sligo line is likely to fall down if they were to cross it regularly.

I'm not sure there's really a good reason for choosing different long-distance train types for different lines on Iarnród Éireann, rather than solely using multiple units, or only using loco-hauled trains, but then again, people seem capable of arguing endlessly in favour or against both. So I guess the current situation partly allows the best of both worlds.

spacetweek

Transport21 Fan wrote:

the planned commuter service through the PPT

T21 Fan - can we get an answer on this? I know of no such plans. Hadn't such a service been completely ruled out?

chamar

Will they be going on the Rosslare line? And will they be any faster?

SeanW

Yes and No.

Yes, the railcars will be going on the Rosslare line later this year, after Sligo has its allocation.

No they won't be any faster.

MarkoP11

They are meant to go on the Rosslare line after the Sligo line changes however since a peek in the cab shows some extra toys (radio and UK safety equipment) it is suggested that the railcars might run Dublin Belfast

Will have to wait till the resignalling is complete on the Rosslare line, times could be cut by 15 minutes but there are restrictions since trains have to pass each other so a gain of 5 minutes on one section means you simply wait 5 minutes more at the next station