DART+ (DART Expansion)

PlatformNine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123069023#Comment_123069023

It is a bit hard to say, but realistically pre-electrification there wont be a large, if any, increase in frequency. During the morning peak there are currently 3 services between 06:00 and 07:00 and 4 between 07:00 and 08:00, however that includes 1 Dundalk service for each hour. With the BEMUs, it may be possible to see an additional depature an hour for 4tph originating from Drogheda, however I wouldn't be surprised if they can't increase past 3 services because of charging and/or siding capacity.

However there should at least be some increase in capacity, because as the new units enter service, it should allow almost all services to use full length 8/10-car sets. Additionally the new units also can carry more passengers than the 29Ks, though with only 3-4 tph I am not sure if it would be a noticeable increase.

goingnowhere

The plan

Initial entry into service, this releases a few 29k's to strengthen any 4 car operations e.g. Docklands and ICR's used on Maynooth and Drogheda services released to intercity operations

Standardising on 29K sets will help greatly with timetable performance as the ICR's suck on dwell times and having a spare set of two will help ensure no short formations

Cork is the logical destination for the 29000 as the 2600's are 1994 builds and they are struggling with demand

Until the physical upgrade works are completed, turn back at Malahide, 4th platform at Drogheda there isn't scope for services

Montys return

Thanks all. So likely the biggest beneficiaries in the short term in terms of capacity would be those travelling on the M3-Parkway to Docklands route as a result of BEMUs freeing up the 29000s?

It was more a question of whether the BEMU trains could carry more passengers than existing services, as I understood from the website that service frequency itself wouldn't increase for now.

Seems like there will be massive strain on the network there in the decade to come, as it would seem from the timelines that is how long it will take to get the northern line electrified. There is a phenomenal amount of building going on in North County Dublin.

Citizen Six

Couple of recent pics of when they finally got it moving. 😂

cgcsb

The railway order for DART+ North is due to be decided on Monday (a bank holiday). So given that nothing has happened to day and no communication on the matter, it's safe to say that the 6 month duration is pure fiction/comedy. 2 years is the minimum time for a railway order, some recently have taken 4 years. Metrolink is coming up on 2.5 years, a total sh1tshow.

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123119841#Comment_123119841

Is it just the angle of the photo or does the new train look quite narrow compared to the 22000 class beside it? I think the 22000's are 2.84m (9' 4") wide, but may be that narrow because of their length. But the new train looks even narrower than it, or at least no wider, which surprised me as I expected them to be wider than existing stock (maybe 10' wide or a slightly more) due to each car being so short in length.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123071429#Comment_123071429

Service frequency might not increase, but with more 29000's available might they have longer trains?

L1011

The peak Docklands services really need to be 8 car 29s at this stage, so hopefully that does happen. After replacing all the floors!

One evening peak to Maynooth is a 4x29 also.

KrisW1001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123071429#Comment_123071429

Regarding capacity, the answer is “yes”, the new stock will carry more passengers. From official figures: 1102 passengers per 10-car BEMU formation (2x 5-cars, 164 m), versus 819 in an 8-car 29000 formation (2x 4-cars, 163 m)

goingnowhere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123119841#Comment_123119841

Test running started this week and is penciled in across Dublin for the next 10 days. Even going as far as Wicklow…

bk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123120666#Comment_123120666

That is genuinely awesome and exciting news.

goingnowhere

Looks like route clearance/gauging testing, so checking platform interface, pantograph, radio coverage and so on. ETCS possibly

The endurance testing is Inchicore Hazelhatch, 3 round trips on a single charge, with new batteries it should make it comfortably

Ireland trains

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123120166#Comment_123120166

Think Geoff Marshall measures the width on his video about the new fleet, fairly sure they’re wider than 9’4”.

Edit: 9’7” apparently.

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123121276#Comment_123121276

I saw that video when it was released and found the bit where they measured the width because the tape measure clearly showed approx 102"/2.6m and when Geoff asked the guy what 260cm is in old money, he said it's 9' 7"(ish) however 260cm is about 8' 6" so not sure where he got his figure from considering he could see the inches on the tape measure when he looked again.

Now clearly this was the interior measurement, from the inside of one door to the inside of the other but if it's 8' 6" on the inside, I would imagine the train could not be much more than 9' wide in total. If so, this would be such a waste of the available loading gauge at our disposal.

The new X'trapolis 2.0 trains being introduced in Melbourne are in the same family as our own, obviously with differences. The cars are a smidgin under 10' wide and they run on 1500V DC on 1600mm rails, just like here! You can clearly the spacious width in the photo below. Why IE did not specify wider cars is a bit puzzling.

spacetweek

when Geoff asked the guy what 260cm is in old money, he said it's 9' 7"(ish) however 260cm is about 8' 6" so not sure where he got his figure from considering he could see the inches on the tape measure when he looked again.

I think it was clear from the context that he didn’t know what it was in old money and just gave any answer.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123120666#Comment_123120666

Is that with the new train to Wicklow, or just finishing off the ETCS testing on the ICR?

Citizen Six

Another one off the boat recently.

p_haugh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123125187#Comment_123125187

That's the 2nd set right?

Citizen Six

yeah

roadmaster

is the new spencer dock station alot closer to construction as per the article below?

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/council-rejects-johnny-ronans-plans-to-build-docklands-padel-courts/a107936710.html

Rashers72

Would be great if anyone got a video of these out on the network…

specialbyte

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123135038#Comment_123135038

The planning file is here if anyone else is interested:

https://planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity/application-details/164560

My understanding is that NTA/Irish Rail will tender for construction the second they have an enforceable railway order. Whether that means they need to wait for the High Court to resolve the judicial review of the Ashtown underpass issue or the High Court limits the scope of that judicial review to that section of the railway order.

Whether that is this year, next year or the year after is unclear right now. The planning application from the developer saying nothing would happen before 2030 is total nonsense.

goingnowhere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123135057#Comment_123135057

It wasn't out on Saturday night/Sunday morning ☹️

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123135057#Comment_123135057

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123135344#Comment_123135344

It won't be out on the main road for a good while yet.

The ETCS testing that's scheduled is on the 22000 set.