Iarnród Éireann sign contract for largest and most sustainable fleet in Irish public transport history

The largest and most sustainable ever order of fleet for Ireland’s public transport network was confirmed today as Alstom were awarded a contract by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) for up to 750 new rail carriages over the coming decade.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D., Global CEO/Chairman of Alstom Henri Poupart-Lafarge and Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority Anne Graham, joined Iarnród Éireann’s Chief Executive, Jim Meade, at Iarnród Éireann’s Inchicore Works to formally sign the contract.  An initial order has been placed for 95 electrically-powered carriages – made up of 19 five-carriage train sets – are set for delivery from mid-2024, entering service in 2025, and will include a number of battery powered carriages, which will deliver more capacity for commuters in advance of electrification of the lines upon which they will operate.

Funded under the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030 by the National Transport Authority, the order for the DART+ Fleet is part of the DART+ Programme, an investment which will more than double the commuter capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area rail network.  DART+ will facilitate sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in our capital and its surrounding counties. 

DART+ Fleet 

IÉ, supported by the NTA, and Alstom have concluded a framework agreement allowing for up to 750 new DART carriages to be ordered over a 10-year period. 

Alstom is one of the largest global suppliers of trains, and is well known to Irish transport users as the supplier of the LUAS tram fleet, and globally as the manufacturer of TGV high-speed trains.  Alstom will deliver the new DART+ fleet as an energy efficient suburban transport solution from its proven X’Trapolis family of trains, with over 2,000 of these already in service in more than 10 countries, but with bespoke refinements to meet the needs of DART+ and Ireland’s specific track gauge.

An initial order for 95 carriages, comprising six sets of five-carriage conventional electric trains and thirteen sets of five-carriage battery-electric trains has been placed. 

The Irish Government has given approval for €318million (incl. VAT) for the initial order for DART+ Fleet, and this includes substantial one-off design costs (1).

This design cost is not applicable for subsequent orders for additional trains under the 750-carriage framework agreement, and will mean any future orders will incur costs of as little as 50% of the initial order.

Subsequent orders are intended to be placed in line with the delivery of the DART+ Programme, and in line with requirements for replacement of the original DART fleet (dating from 1984) later in the decade.

The initial 95-carriage DART+ fleet order will:

• Consist of 5-carriage train sets (equivalent in length to the 4-carriage train sets in the current DART fleet) providing high capacity with wide gangways between carriages.  This will allow customers to freely circulate throughout the full length of 5-carriage trains, creating a more open and spacious environment and enhancing security.  A 10-carriage train, made up of two 5-carriage train sets joined, will be the longest train size operable by the new fleet on current infrastructure, and will have capacity for at least 1,100 customers
• Prioritise independent access, with each of the low-height doorway thresholds being equipped with an automatic retractable step and offering the potential for unassisted level access from suitable platforms, aligned with platform enhancements
• Include improved facilities for families and for cyclists, with dedicated family and bicycle storage areas, and charging facilities for everything from mobile phones to e-bikes and e-scooters
• Provide transformed customer information on-board, with large, high-resolution onboard displays having the ability to provide real-time updates, including information from other public transport systems in the Transport for Ireland network, and other features designed for the needs of sensory impaired customers
• Be designed for reduced energy consumption, enhancing further rail’s advantage in sustainable mobility for land transport
• Be equipped with an advanced CCTV system with cameras throughout every carriage, to enhance safety and security for customers and employees
• Be designed to meet the expectations of customers and to deliver an ergonomic design for drivers – research with customer and driver groups is already underway to ensure the needs of all on board are integral to design
• Deliver off-wire operation through the incorporation of battery-electric technology, enabling new services and new capacity to be provided in the Greater Dublin area in advance of electrification.  Energy stored in the battery system will be replenished via fast charging stations at chosen terminus locations and by recovering braking energy while the new battery-electric trainsets are on the move.  This will enable, for example, the new battery-electric fleet to deliver Dublin to Drogheda return services, with fast charging at Drogheda Station
• The initial 95-carriage order will benefit a number of routes:
  • New battery-electric carriages will be deployed on Drogheda to Dublin Northern Commuter services
  • New electric carriages will be deployed on existing Malahide/Howth to Bray/Greystones DART services, to maximise capacity
  • Introduction of the new fleet will also free up existing carriages to increase capacity on other Commuter and Intercity services
• In addition to the fleet, Alstom will provide a range of supports, including a Technical Support and Spares Supply agreement for the first 15 years of the fleet’s operation, and provision of three train simulators to support driver training
•  (1)  Alstom quote €270million (excl. VAT and Project Management)

Building a sustainable transport network

The ambitious overall agreement for up to 750 carriages allows for the overall planned fleet expansion, ensures there is a framework is in place for more carriages to be ordered as demand increases - including requirements outside the current National Development Plan - and enables replacement of the original DART fleet (76-carriage fleet in service since 1984). 

As well as the capacity increases that will be delivered through the DART+ Programme and the new DART+ Fleet in the Greater Dublin Area, Intercity carriages currently in use on Commuter services will be cascaded upon arrival of the new electrically-powered trainsets to enhance and strengthen other rail services.

DART+ Programme Update

DART+ is the transformative programme that will ensure train travel is at the heart of Ireland’s sustainable transport network. Funded under the National Development Plan by the National Transport Authority, DART+ is an investment that will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area network, facilitating sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in our capital and its surrounding counties. The overall programme will provide electrification of lines on DART+ West to Maynooth/M3 Parkway, on DART+ South-West to Hazelhatch and DART+ Coastal North to Drogheda. DART+ Coastal South will also see key infrastructure works as far as Greystones to allow more trains to operate. 

DART+ Programme Status update

Speaking at today’s event, the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D said: “The DART is one of the great successes of our transport system, and we are now  moving into an exciting new phase with Dart+, which will double capacity and treble the length of the network. This new fleet will result in  increased capacity for passengers as well as improved accessibility, facilities and comfort. The battery electric trains included in this contract will be used on the Northern Line before electrification of the line is complete.  This will free up the diesel units to be redeployed elsewhere thus boosting capacity further. 

Expanding and improving public transport is key to reaching our climate goals. We know from experience that if we provide high quality public transport people will use it, and I look forward to seeing the project progress in the years to come.”

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade said: “the significance of this order and framework agreement – coupled with the approval by Government last week of the DART+ Business Case - for the future of rail transport in Ireland and our wider sustainable transport network cannot be overstated.   This framework agreement with Alstom, and the associated infrastructure investment under DART+, will be central to a transformative change for our services and for our customers, and will help us in Iarnród Éireann to achieve our ambition of being the backbone of Ireland’s sustainable transport network.  We’re excited to work with the NTA and Alstom to deliver expanded services in the Greater Dublin Area, enhanced facilities for our customers, and a cleaner environment for our country.”

Chief Executive of NTA – Anne Graham said: “The signing of this contract today is a clear indication of the real progress that is being made in developing a public transport service that will meet and exceed the transport requirements of people in this region for years and decades to come.

I have no doubt that the DART+ as a programme of projects will prove to be transformative for the entire region, and work is already proceeding well on progressing the infrastructure schemes.  But communities along these lines shouldn’t be asked to wait any longer than is necessary, and by prioritising the procurement of this fleet, it will be possible to deliver extended DART services, even before the required infrastructure investment is completed.

In NTA’s revised Draft GDA Transport Strategy 2022-2042 that we published last month, we announced that PSO bus and commuter rail fleet in the Dublin Metropolitan Area will be 100% electric and zero-emission by 2035. Today’s announcement marks a significant step towards that objective.”

Global CEO/Chairman of Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge said: “Alstom is delighted to have been selected to deliver the new DART+ fleet. Ireland is a very important market to us, and the new electric and battery-electric X’trapolis fleet is a big step for making rail even more sustainable while transforming the passenger experience in the Greater Dublin area and beyond. This order reinforces Alstom’s position as the world’s leading innovator and supplier of green mobility technologies.”