Irish rail fleet and infrastructure plans

EarWig · 24-04-2026 08:51PM

The National Transport Authority has ordered an independent review of the new €36 million IT system to manage train movements following significant delays and cost overruns.
The board of the State authority responsible for planning and developing public transport and infrastructure directed that the review be carried out.

https://www.irishtimes.com/transport/2026/04/24/independent-review-ordered-into-36m-railway-it-system-amid-concerns-of-cost-overruns/

Citizen Six · 27-04-2026 11:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124417786#Comment_124417786

They are often left on for longer than they need to be, and some units have auto switch off bypassed.

Ireland trains · 01-05-2026 05:35PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYmqZCkGiaw

https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/e3/I%C3%89_Rethink-Rail_V1.0_20260420.pdf

Interesting to see reports on fleet strategy and service-led investment have been drawn up.
Any chance of either of them being published?

end of the road · 01-05-2026 06:46PM

I'm going to bet that not only is there no chance of either of them being published, but there is no chance of any of it actually being delivered.

Geuze · 07-05-2026 07:53PM

https://www.railwaygazette.com/ireland/2026/05/07/stadler-trains-ordered-to-make-the-dublin-belfast-enterprise-a-true-flagship-service/

EUROPE: The €698m contract for Stadler to supply a fleet of eight Flirt inter-city trainsets for the Belfast – Dublin cross-border Enterprise service which is jointly operated by Northern Ireland’s Translink and the Republic of Ireland’s Iarnród Éireann was formally signed at Belfast Grand Central Station on May 7.

€698m for eight trains………………eight trains……………….???!!!!!

I thought a coach was about 1.5m - 2m, maybe €10m - €15m for a seven coach train.

Assuming 8 vehicles per train, that is €11m per vehicle.

I see SNCF paying €600m for 15 TGV-M trainsets, with 9 coaches each, that is €40m per set.

€135 vehicles for 600m = €4.5m per vehicle

https://www.groupe-sncf.com/en/group/about-us/companies/sncf-voyageurs/15-tgv-m-trainsets-alstom-order

L1011 · 07-05-2026 08:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451307#Comment_124451307

Multi mode vehicles (with future proofing to be a different type of multi-mode) for a unique combo of track and loading gauge are going to be expensive. Significantly more expensive than a top-up order for an already existing type of unit.

PlatformNine · 07-05-2026 08:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451307#Comment_124451307

Like @L1011 says, it's the initial design costs that are going to be a big chunk of this order. Ideally, these same sets will be ordered for Cork-Dublin services in a few years time, maybe even as part of a larger order or framework to start supplementing the 22K fleet. Those orders will be much cheaper because of it, maybe approaching 5-6m.

We have already seen this happen with the new DART units, with more recent orders coming in around 2m per vehicle where the initial fleet order would have been closer to 3m or 4m a vehicle.

PlatformNine · 07-05-2026 08:24PM

https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/contract-for-new-enterprise-fleet-formally-signed

also to post the IÉ news page article rather than just the Gazette's article.

dublinman1990 · 07-05-2026 09:14PM

The Government have also allocated the funding to begin Phase 2 of the CACR network in late April.

There will be planning applications submitted to ACP for two new stations to be built in Blackpool & Dunkettle before the remaining stations will get built for the project. The electrification of Cork's railway network will be completed by next year.

https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/two-new-train-stations-for-cork-set-to-enter-planning-phase

Cookiemunster · 07-05-2026 09:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451536#Comment_124451536

Resignaling of Glouthaune to Midleton will be finished next year. Electrification is still years away and is only going to ACP next year.

Geuze · 08-05-2026 12:29AM

Electrictrification of an existing line should not need PP, never mind going near ABP.

If it does, then the legislation needs changing.

We'll never get anything built.

goingnowhere · 08-05-2026 06:43AM

Its the substations and bridge alterations/replacement where planning is an issue

Putting up the wires itself doesn't require permission.

Jamie2k9 · 08-05-2026 09:02AM

IE wouldn't have the expertise or capacity to complete the electrification of multiple projects together.

Its not unique to IE however what should be avoided is electrifying one line and then leaving time lapse before starting the next project. You lose expertise and increase costs.

They have the projects at various stages which should pay off. Managed correctly and Government fund without delaying. Teams should move from project to project.

Qaanaaq · 08-05-2026 01:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451375#Comment_124451375

Is there a split in costs between IR/NIR for this? Who picks up the tab?

L1011 · 08-05-2026 02:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453080#Comment_124453080

Three way with some EU money

£200m sterling NI, €165m EU, balance Irish Government

bk · 08-05-2026 02:40PM

Yes the trains we are getting will be a unique design, I believe these will be the first Flirt 200 Intercity trains with Diesel Engines in them, so that is going to come with extra cost for R&D. That is ontop of unique track gauge, etc.

The Flirt 160 regional trains have had Diesel option, but I believe all the Flirt 200 intercity trains have been EMU's until now.

Caquas · 08-05-2026 06:46PM

This IT report is comical or gut-wrenching, depending on your mood.

The headline and lede promise that

Journey times on the main Belfast to Dublin train are to be cut to under two hours following a €700 million investment deal that aims to transform the cross-Border service.

To be exact

A “target express journey time” of just under two hours has been set

But journey times currently can be two hours and five minutes. A reliable 2 hours and 5 minutes would obviously be at least as good as a wooly “target express journey time” of just under two hours. I mean train journey times of course - anyone in car will do this journey in 90 minutes if traffic permits.

Of course time isn't everything. There'll be a dining car, stepless access and, miracle of the ages! - USB charging points! All that for a mere €700 million! You won't get one-third of a Children's Hospital for that piffling sum.

Why don't we live in a serious European country, where a train between the two largest cities takes less than an hour to travel this distance? (e.g. Paris to Lyon takes just an hour. Madrid – Puertollano takes 1hrs. 13 minutes, Rome-Naples 1hr. 8minutes,all are further than Dublin-Belfast ).

That would be a transformative national project. How much more so if Connolly and Heuston Stations were linked. Of course, the mad costs of HS2 would be replicated here so that a high-speed rail link Dublin-Belfast would probably absorb every cent of our corporation tax windfall until that golden goose finally croaks.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/05/07/new-belfast-trains-will-cut-travel-times-to-dublin-to-under-two-hours/

goingnowhere · 08-05-2026 07:06PM

New trains will accelerate a lot faster than the current ones so without any infrastructure changes will cut a good lump out times especially in the Drogheda Portadown section which is fairly hilly

700 million is the new fleet, infrastructure upgrades, depot upgrades, driving simulator, 15 years maintenance and support

Paris Lyon is 2 hours not 1…

bk · 08-05-2026 08:00PM

To add to what goingnowhere says, the trains will be capable of higher speeds, the long term goal will be 90 minutes per the All Island Rail Review, however that will require significant infrastructure investment in the line to fully electrify it and bring it up to to higher speeds.

The 700 million buys you the trains with this capability (both speed and electric capability) but not the billion extra or so needed to upgrade the line.

There are three phases to upgrading the route:

Phase 1 hourly operation, achieved last year
Phase 2 new trains and sub 2 hour journey time.
Phase 3 line improvements and electrification to achieve 90 minutes journey time.

end of the road · 08-05-2026 09:29PM

and after it all they won't achieve a 90 minute journey time i bet.

they have been trying to get cork-dublin under 2 hours since god knows when and they are way away from achieving that.

BestWestern · 08-05-2026 10:24PM

It's not that long ago since NIR were considering single tracking the line, so we've come quite far.

bk · 09-05-2026 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124454247#Comment_124454247

Cork in two hours simply isn’t possible with the current trains! The 201 Loco is limited to 160km/h top speed means it isn’t possible and while I know the Mark 4’s are capable of 200km/h I suspect they would shake themselves apart if you actually tried it.

We will likely be replacing the Makr 4’s in a few years and I assume they will spec a true 200km/h capable trains, perhaps the same or version of the new Flirt 200 trains going on the enterprise service.

That should unlock better journey times, though obviously not 2 hours, you will need other track improvements including electrification etc. to really hit that journey time.

In fairness to IR they have been quietly improving the line behind the scenes, removing level crossings, etc. all necessary work for faster journey times.

goingnowhere · 09-05-2026 11:11AM

Current best non stop was a C3K a few years back just over 1:40 and that was from Lanyon Place not BGS so 3 minute already saved

I'd expect Irish Rail to move Malahide-Drogheda and Drogheda-Dundalk-Border to 100mph where possible with the new fleet in place. NIR has been slowly upgrading on its side so similar expected. Thats where some of the huge budget is going.

The Stadler train will be distributed traction 3 phase motors so will be a lot quicker up to line speed, probably get to 100mph in under 2 minutes, ICR takes over 5 and add in the hilly nature of the route where the Enterprise sets struggle, the Stadler train will really show its performance.

Sub 2 hours with 4 stops is the goal, stops and Drogheda and Portadown cost little due speed restrictions, you could blast through Dundalk at 80mph if you want but the whole regional integration and connectivity benefit fails if you do that

bk · 09-05-2026 12:19PM

BTW a few interesting bits of info from the Stadler press release.

It looks like the carriage on one end will be a power car. Basically drivers cab and the Diesel engines in it, no passenger space in that carriage by the looks of it. The other side looks like it has a driver cab and passenger seats.

That means you won’t have noisy engines in each carriage like the ICR’s, it will feel more like a loco hauled train, though obviously not strictly so.

The train will be 200m long.

They claim that the train will be able to run on batteries in the Belfast region and tech to Diesel on crossing the border as far as Drogheda. I’m not sure what range it will really have on batteries, just in the station and surrounds or all the way to the border, it will be interesting to see what is planned here.

They also suggest that when the Diesel engines are removed, the batteries will be able to cover missing areas of electrification. That will add interesting flexibility to cover areas that are more difficult to electrify.

The contract includes 15 years of maintenance and support.

bk · 09-05-2026 12:20PM

I think it is a very nice looking train.

Though it will be a bit weird that the door is in the center of the carriage, I’m not sure how comfortable the interior will be for passengers like that.

legend99 · 09-05-2026 12:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455029#Comment_124455029

Just out of curiosity, how long is the rail distance from Dublin to Cork? Ironically, Google maps says 255km for driving distance and gives an estimate right now 2 hours and 33 minutes compared to the 13:25 train which is 2 hours and 41 minutes.

bk · 09-05-2026 12:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455238#Comment_124455238

it is about 266km. The difference with a car is that the train stops at a few stations along the way, Limerick Junction, etc. while typically a car journey is non stop.

Of course the nice thing about taking a train ( or coach) is that you can sit back and relax and sleep or watch a movie, which you certainly can’t do while driving. Each have their pros and cons.

goingnowhere · 09-05-2026 12:31PM

265.86km by rail

Best time is 2:15

legend99 · 09-05-2026 12:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455246#Comment_124455246

Big time. It's a lot easier being driven by someone else and sitting back. Especially if up and down in the same day.

PlatformNine · 09-05-2026 01:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124455217#Comment_124455217

Also interesting from the Stadler press release it says it will have 407 seats. I think that seems quite low. Current enterprise stock seats 450 at the same length, and a 6-car ICR w/ 1st class (which is almost 50-60m shorter) seats almost 400 too.

I was really expecting the new units to have a much higher capacity approaching 500 seats. So I am curious why the capacity is so low. I imagine it is just something about the design (low floor, power cars, maybe less seating in the buffet car), however I am still very curious.

Irish rail fleet and infrastructure plans

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