DART+ (DART Expansion)

jwm121

So when is the planned entry of service of the new Dart trains anywhere on the network now? Nothing till halfway through 2027? It is really disappointing and annoying to see. The amount of set backs on every public transport project in Dublin is just causing more and more congestion. You can't get a seat at Greystones at 7am on the Dart.

Bodan

"The battery proposed for the Australian tram project is smaller than the battery used on the Dart+ battery electric multiple unit train, but is otherwise technically the same. During testing on the Australian tram project, this battery did not pass the required tests and needed some redesign.”

He said: “Arising from their experience on the Australia tram project, Alstom and OP Mobility advised us of the requirement to redesign the Dart+ battery-electric train battery design arrangements in order to improve the resilience of the battery packs.” “This was notified to Iarnrod Éireann in August 2025, and this redesign is now complete. However, the formal certification tests for the Dart+ battery-electric battery must be repeated due to the design change,” he said.

Kenny added: “This means that the application for approval of the battery-electric trainset to the European Rail Agency (ERA) has moved to August 2026. While it may be the case that ERA completes its decision process sooner, IÉ must be prudent in forecasting, and has based an eight-month timeline for ERA decision on typical experience of ERA processes with other fleets in Europe.”

Some interesting quotes from Barry Kenny on irishcycle.com explaining the nub of the issue.

https://irishcycle.com/2025/10/22/expansion-of-dart-to-drogheda-using-battery-electric-trains-delayed-until-2027/