DART+ (DART Expansion)

jwm121 · 23-10-2025 12:28AM

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 · 23-10-2025 12:36AM

"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/

riddlinrussell · 23-10-2025 07:21AM

IrishCycle has some well researched journalism. Disappointing but here's hoping the EMUs get ordered quick and maybe those can be prioritised in the factory?

loyatemu · 23-10-2025 09:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123929337#Comment_123929337

in fairness, Drogheda is being electrified and the BEMUs were a stopgap. If they'd just ordered EMUs do you think the electrification project would be any further along? I doubt it.

Citizen Six · 23-10-2025 09:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123929337#Comment_123929337

Think that might have been the presentation with Paul Hendrick.

Glaceon · 23-10-2025 10:06AM

Considering that we now have a JR on the northern line electrification project, the BEMU idea doesn't seem all that far-fetched. But as someone who lives in Drogheda and uses the commuter rail regularly, the delay is very disappointing. I suspected that they weren't going to meet the original "early 2026" target considering that we only have three units in the country at this stage.

p_haugh · 23-10-2025 10:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123929794#Comment_123929794

I just noticed, the Irish cycle article also mentions that the new DARTs were already delayed until late 2026 according to what was said at the Oireachtas

However, the company is now claiming that the delay has been pushed from “the end of 2026” to Q2 2027. If the rollout of the new train was already delayed to the end of next year, it is unclear where this information was made public.

Beta Ray Bill · 23-10-2025 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123929995#Comment_123929995

I think it would to be honest. Adding the overhead lines is the easy part
Getting the right type of power to them is the tricky bit.

It's a huge setback, but this is to be expected with new technologies.

I still think it was the right idea to go Batteries as it adds flexibility/scalability.

The big issue now though is that Irish Rail are stuck with the 8100 class for another 2 years (Unless they can use the new DARTs without the batteries while they wait for the new batteries to be delivered)

LXFlyer · 23-10-2025 02:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123929659#Comment_123929659

Cian does make one significant error in that article, which many people seem to be making when they see these BEMUs branded as DART.

The BEMUs are like for like replacements for the DMUs currently on the Northern Line, and as such their arrival does not equate to a more frequent service.

That will only happen when DART+ Coastal North is completed.

riddlinrussell · 23-10-2025 08:24PM

It would increase the frequency of service of "somewhere" on the network by freeing those DMUs for other service, but yes not on the Northern Line itself

gjim · 23-10-2025 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123930077#Comment_123930077

Yeah that’s the one, thanks.

LXFlyer · 23-10-2025 08:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123931896#Comment_123931896

That’s not what he says though.

A plan to operate a more frequent train service under the Dart brand on Dublin’s northern line has been delayed by a year until 2027 due to a supply issue with the battery units for the new trains, Irish Rail confirmed today.

The first part of that statement is wrong.

riddlinrussell · 23-10-2025 08:38PM

Sorry, to clarify, I wasn't defending the accuracy of the article, just saying the DMUs will be useful elsewhere.

LXFlyer · 23-10-2025 08:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123931930#Comment_123931930

Absolutely.

DART+ (DART Expansion)

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