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DART Trains 30 Years Old

nigelradion2

It's hard to believe it but the DART train will be 30 years old on the 23rd of July. Incredible to think that the majority of the "original" DART trains (the 8100/8300) rolling stock are still in service.

I remember being amazed by this train when I first saw it at the age of 6 in the summer of 1984. Compared to the old and, occasionally very infrequent push-pull suburban trains of the time, the DART was an amazing step forward. It looked amazing inside and out and was amazing comfortable as well, which it still is today.

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etchyed

nigelradion2 wrote: »

Incredible to think that the majority of the "original" DART trains (the 8100/8300) rolling stock are still in service.

One small niggle - this is not really incredible. It's pretty much what you would expect of rolling stock of this nature - to last about 40 years or a little longer. They received a complete refurb not long ago (again, what you would expect halfway through their lifespan) and I would imagine they'll be around for another 10 years, if not longer.

nigelradion2

etchyed wrote: »

One small niggle - this is not really incredible. It's pretty much what you would expect of rolling stock of this nature - to last about 40 years or a little longer. They received a complete refurb not long ago (again, what you would expect halfway through their lifespan) and I would imagine they'll be around for another 10 years, if not longer.

yes indeed. you only have to look at trains like the UK's Intercity 125 HST which was introduced in 1976 and is still going strong now.

Captain Chaos

If you think about it the 8100/8300s are the oldest pieces of rolling stock in service on Irish Rail apart from the 071 class locos. Never thought I'd see the day when that would be true. Their refurb was 7 years ago now and about 3-4 sets are in long term storage at Fairview surplus to requirements at is one 8520 set.

bikeman1

And about half of the DARTs are still going around with the DART 25 stickers 5 years on!

I can see the 8100s lasting up to 20 years after their last overhaul. They are in great condition and shows if you do a proper overhaul it will reap rewards.

Victor

This: http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/dart states 37 number 2-car sets of the 8100/8300 class of of the original 40. What have the losses been. I know there were one or two fires.

Losty Dublin

Victor wrote: »

This: http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/dart states 37 number 2-car sets of the 8100/8300 class of of the original 40. What have the losses been. I know there were one or two fires.

Sets 8110 and 8136 were destroyed in the Fairview fire. Unsure what the other withdrawn set is but I recall a third set being vandalised a few years ago.

Captain Chaos

Sets 3,5,13 and 38 are stored out of service as of January 2013. I think 5 and 38 have returned since then and been rotated with other sets.

8520 set 23/24 has not moved in months either at the south end of Fairview depot.

devnull

The 8100/8300s are by far better than the 8500s and Siemens did a great job on them on the refurbishment. Other than the slow opening doors I cannot find any fault with them they are a good solid train and if they are withdrawn soon it would be a travesty. They are ideally suited to the work they do.

They also benefit from having a good and reliable PIS with much better quality displays inside and outside and 99/100 know where they are going and are working, that is more than what can be said about the 8500 series!

Captain Chaos

The 8500s and 8510s are a mess with their seats that wreck your back and no leg room at all, and stupid PA systems but the 8520s are the best DARTs imo. Best seats, ride comfort, PA system, great air con in the summer and faster doors than the 8100s

devnull

I don't like the seats on the 8500s they're huge and well padded, but seem to feel a little bit too close to the ground for me and if you are sitting on a small slope?

Captain Chaos

devnull wrote: »

I don't like the seats on the 8500s they're huge and well padded, but seem to feel a little bit too close to the ground for me and if you are sitting on a small slope?

Yeah the 8500s and 8510s are like that but the seats on the 8520s are very different. They have nice leg room and a flat profile with no excessive padding. IE should replace them all with the 8520 style ones. Alot of times I find the 8500 seats broken because of the way you are forced to sit on them with the base sliding off the bench.

8500/8510 seats.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/metromadme/8703152684/

8520 seats.
http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/ie/dublin/pix/Inside-Tokyu-train-07.JPG

end of the road

rather techy but i think the 8520s have the exact same window frame profile as the 2800s? the 8500s and 8510s are a tad different though, those sloaping seats are horid, makes the 26/7/8/900 seats look more appealing

Cookie_Monster

The 8100 Darts are pretty much the last of the really long lived stock IE have, anything younger hasn't or won't last nearly as long.mk3 gone, 201 semi gone, 26/27/28 being restricted in some cases.

Captain Chaos wrote:

If you think about it the 8100/8300s are the oldest pieces of rolling stock in service on Irish Rail apart from the 071 class locos.

two 141 still running Inchicore pilot, depends how you count that service wise

52 years young

Temp101

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

two 141 still running Inchicore pilot, depends how you count that service wise 52 years young

Eh? Haven't worked since 2011!!!

steamengine

The 8100 seats are grand too, plenty of room whatever which way

devnull

Having been on an 8520 today I'd concur that those seats are much better than that of the other trains in the class, although funnily enough those very same seats are used in some Siemens products in the UK and people have moaned about them being too upright, too high and too narrow, but I rather like them.

Still prefer the 8100s for me though, the design following refurbishment is still of a higher standard than the more recent sets and most Irish Rail stuff, the displays on the exterior are far superior to anything else found on Irish Rail stock, are bright, always work and fit the train well and the PIS inside is vastly better as well. The window fittings also look vastly better as well compared to the 8500 series

Most of all the 8100s feel like a high capacity urban rapid transport train, the others feel like they are just standard commuter stock that has been adapted.

end of the road

devnull wrote: »

the others feel like they are just standard commuter stock that has been adapted.

i think that is because they are exactly that, i think at least one of the 8500 classes are similar to the 2800 class, definitely same type of window frame (yes, i am that sad)

Zulu

Thanks be to God the old ones are still running, the new ones are a disgrace. Too few windows that open, sloped seats, and at 6foot 1 my knees are almost in the crotch of the person opposite. Terribly uncomfortable. Hate them.

Losty Dublin

A little after 6AM on July 23rd, 1984, a suburban train departed from the Wicklow town of Bray for the seaside village of Howth, on Dublins Northside. The early passengers on board unwittingly made history as they went to work that day for they traveled on the first ever trip of Dublin Area Rapid Transit, the DART. Tens of thousands traveled on board the shining new carriages of Ireland first mainline electrical; today multiples more use the DART which, bar two extensions and additions to the fleet, remains a popular and reliable way to commute in the city.

Memories and photos welcome

Cinephille1888

Never really was a user but am fond for it.

Most of my travel has been on Northern commuters, but the dart was always there for visiting friends, day trips etc.

Lovely to pop to Dun Laoghaire, Bray or Howth on the Dart, any time of the year.

For one of the oldest commuter railways in the world it's still hanging on pretty well.

Let's hope the next 30 years are even better.

Arthur Beesley

I've used it as part of daily commute since college, for 16 of the last 20 years.

Generally reliable and on time, reasonable frequency, but the short trains at so called off peak in the evenings are really starting to annoy me.

Banjoxed

Let us never forget what went before. Dank, leaking carriages converted from what had been decently appointed DMUs into puce and brown monstrosities with stacking chair seating around the perimeter of each carriage, and frequent calls in the Sunday Independent to scrap the railways altogether.

DART, by and large, has been a refutation of that. Long may it run.

metrovick001

"frequent calls in the Sunday Independent to scrap the railways altogether" - says a heck of alot about that title!

Banjoxed wrote: »

Let us never forget what went before. Dank, leaking carriages converted from what had been decently appointed DMUs into puce and brown monstrosities with stacking chair seating around the perimeter of each carriage, and frequent calls in the Sunday Independent to scrap the railways altogether.

DART, by and large, has been a refutation of that. Long may it run.

Grandeeod

I travelled on it during the first week. During construction I got my first taste of how ****e the service was before it. Showed up one saturday at the newly opened arches entrance down from Connolly, the famous "Suburban" entrance. About 2pm. We were told the next departure to Bray was 4.30pm! Once opened it was a revelation.

My first trip was off a connection from Skerries. Ancient Park Royals and associated CIE stock hauled by a MV. We considered that posh over the PPs. Then onto the DART and into another world.

Travelled regularly during college years in the very early 90s. Always reliable and the 20/15/5 minute services were perfect 7 days a week until politicians got stuck in and......well you know.

Copyerselveson

I was on an AnCo course in Dun Laoghaire during the switchover from the old converted railcars to the Darts. What a revelation! The Dart cars were so much more modern and clean and I was no longer a slave to the timetable.

Grandeeod

Copyerselveson wrote: »

I was on an AnCo course in Dun Laoghaire during the switchover from the old converted railcars to the Darts. What a revelation! The Dart cars were so much more modern and clean and I was no longer a slave to the timetable.

That makes me feel better. You are a little older than me!:D

N64

http://www.rte.ie/archives/2014/0723/632532-dart-from-bray-to-howth/

A dart ride from when it first opened

stephenamccann

thanks for posting

IE123

I would say that by the time Dart Underground opens (now looking like 2020-2025), the 8100/8300 sets will need to be replaced.

Still, great to see that they have lasted so long.

telecinesk

Dunno if this is o/T. I have a copy of "riding the fringes" presented by eamonn mac tomais about the dart which was made in 85, it may have been broadcast.my copy is from the production company that made it, their clock is at beginning ,and wonder if its of interest to IE archive if someone knows how to contact them. Does anyone remember it broadcast? Dart was so new then its looks amazing 30yrs on.