They've had a hard life, mainly due to there being insufficient stock to cover for them. IE probably couldn't take them out of service for a midlife refurb even if they wanted to, at least not until the DART is extended to Drogheda.
I'd have thought they're due a full mid life refurb at this stage; if they're only doing the seats that would suggest they're not planning to keep them running for 35-40 years.
Presumably there won't ever be orders of new DMUs again (EMU/BEMU only), and a large part of the network will remain non-electrified and beyond battery range. Could they are looking to flog the DMUs for as long as physically possible because they know they won't have any other options?
About time!
wouldn't surprise me if they do get scrapped but to be honest it would be stupid as chances are they could be refurbished reasonably enough.
if they are i can guarantee just like last time the new stock won't be enough to replace what was scrapped and deliver the necessary increased services and capacity.
yeah, I sort of assumed they'd be scrapped as new stock gets delivered, they're wrecked. Surprised to hear about this tender so...
and a hell of a lot more to boot.
they need a complete refurbishment at this stage they are almost clapped out.
they need to do the floors on the 29ks as well.
IÉ have issued a tender for passenger seat replacement for 2600 & 29000 DMU Fleets;x
My reading is NIR have no intention of electrifying Newry-border and like today keep the line just about functional at minimun cost. IE would probally go north of Dundalk but maybe not the full way to border.
Can't see locomotive been considered all, various commentarty on the route have all referecned multiple units.
25kv AV electrification with gaps (for bridges, tunnels)? What a laughing stock Translink or IE would be if they went for this nonsense, They might save on the fixed OHLE but what about the cost and complexity of having hybrid stock? Dual voltage electric traction is no problem, perfectly routine in Europe and totally proven technology.
Does anyone in Ireland ever go to the Continent and see how things should be done?
What types of locomotives are currently suitable to carry out that purpose for the Enterprise? Do NIR & IE have a fair idea as to what type of new locomotive they can order for that purpose when it's used on an Irish rail guage.
I would have some confidence to say that type of technology is available for rail lines right across Central Europe as lot of them are equipped with OHLE for locomotives to carry out passenger and freight runs.
If they're going down this route of sort of sometime partially electrifying the Dublin-Belfast line with caveats, then it strikes me that continuing to divide the service with locomotives and carriage sets (with a DVT) would be ideal. A good start might be to acquire a replacement for the 201 class locomotive that can use both diesel and draw from the DART (1.5 kv DC) OHLE for start, then if it later turns out that the Northern Ireland rail network is to be electrified with 25kv AC but with gaps for tunnels, bridges etc, then the DVT could be replaced with an AC powered locomotive that includes batteries or something.
Should be doable. a surprising number or locomotives and EMUs are multi-voltage capable, including the ICE 3 trainsets operating into the Netherlands from Germany, who have to switch from 15KV on the German network to 1.5KV on the Dutch network. Swiss railways have to deal with similar issues when operating into France or Italy, including with regional or suburban type trainsets.
Hydrogen?
https://www.alstom.com/solutions/rolling-stock/alstom-coradia-ilint-worlds-1st-hydrogen-powered-train
I see they have a traction stuidy for Enterprise replacment out. They are still going with 2027/28 timeframe.
Most noteable:
The new fleet will operate using IÉ’s existing 1.5 kV DC OHLE network where installed and otherwise be self-powered until route electrification is achieved around 2035. NIR propose at some future point to install 25 kV AC OHLE and it may feature short discontinuous sections. All technology & fuel source strategies and solutions recommended must be proven reliable, have established safe supply networks and demonstrate value for money. “Self-Power” requires a very detailed study and Diesel power is seen as a choice of last resort where no other practical proven solutions currently exist.
Going to be a costly train to accommodate 3 modes.
They were borderline unservicable from the day they arrived. There were huge warranty claims which made them just usable enough for the life they had.
The very closely related 8200 DARTs had an even worse service history. Both should have been rejected to the manufacturer like Denmark did to AnsaladoBreda but massive fleet constraints at the time meant they weren't.
Pity.
The 2700 class were in service for what, just 12-14 years?
I can't understand how they deteriorated so much by simply being parked somewhere.
Were they laid up outdoors or indoors?
Out of service, unserviceable and non-economic to restore.
If they wanted more stock, they could get it quicker and easier by ordering it. But it seems to be the case that anything other than the limited number of 22ks that are on their way here is going to rely on cascaded diesels from Dublin when the DART+ fleet start to arrive.
yes still out of service, very unlikely to ever run again at this stage.
Is the 2700 class still completely out of service?
I know a plan to renovate them was abandoned.
There are 26 vehicles, I think.
I have seen massive, severe overcrowding on first train into Galway in the morning, so more stock is needed.
Quiet an extraordinary situation that IE, NTA and Dep of Transport have self inflected. The prospect of over half the DART fleet been taken out of service with no replacement available. Hopeing for an ontime delivary, commissioning and fault free trains.
Its about time IE stopped pandering to TDs when they appear at Gov committes wasting everyones time about this uneonomical plans for various rail lines, stations and service aspirations. There is already daily DART failures which were almost unheard of a few years ago and they expect them to keep going when they should be scraped at least 10 years ago.
The CRR will probally extend it by much less than 10 years (2-5) but it would be great to see the fallout if they refused especially coming into an election year...
Seems Irish Rail now want to keep the 8100s going.
https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2022/09/17/irish-rail-seeks-another-life-extension-of-original-dart-fleet-up-to-2034/
Irish rail posted about the first 3 carriages being unloaded today
The first 3 carriages arrived to Dublin this morning along with new RTGs for DFT terminal.. They should be offloaded on Wednesday evening in Ocean Pier terminal
Also, anyone have an update on the new ICR cars? I know the first vehicles are en-route from South Korea and due to arrive this month.
Ah my bad, even better!
actually all the way down to Wicklow Town is included in this project.
Seen this come up in the news today.
Preliminary design beginning soon for flood & erosion prevention on the Rosslare line between Merrion Gates and Greystones.
they will probably rely on battery for that.
