Ireland Orders 100 More DART Carriages in Major Rail Investment

Alstom has agreed a €160 million contract with Iarnród Éireann for 100 additional energy-efficient rail carriages, forming part of a wider €173.9 million investment programme in Ireland. The order will deliver new five-carriage X’trapolis electric multiple unit trains for the Greater Dublin Area, replacing the original DART fleet that has been in service since the network opened in 1984.

The latest deal follows two earlier contracts for new 90000 Class trains and brings total investment in new electric and battery-electric rolling stock for Ireland to around €670 million. The new order will see the long-serving 8100 Class trains withdrawn from the coastal route between Greystones, Malahide and Howth. In total, 285 Alstom carriages have now been ordered for the DART+ programme, equating to 57 five-carriage X’trapolis train sets.

Under the earlier contracts, 95 new DART carriages are due to enter service from the first half of 2027, primarily on the Dublin to Drogheda line, with a further 90 carriages scheduled to follow from 2028. Maintenance services are included with each order, covering 10 years for the second batch and up to 15 years for the latest trains. All three orders sit within a framework agreement that allows for up to 750 electric and battery-electric carriages to be supplied over a decade.

A significant proportion of the first two orders will operate as battery-electric multiple units, supported by charging infrastructure being installed at Drogheda station. The procurement has been led by Iarnród Éireann through the National Transport Authority and funded by the Department of Transport.

Passenger demand on Dublin’s rail network continues to rise, with at least 23 million journeys forecast on the existing DART routes in 2025, the highest figure on record. A further 16 million journeys are expected across commuter routes serving Drogheda, Maynooth, M3 Parkway, Kildare and Wicklow. The wider DART+ programme, combining new trains with major infrastructure upgrades, is designed to double rail capacity across the Greater Dublin Area.

The new X’trapolis fleet will be built at Alstom’s factory in Chorzów, Poland, and will offer higher capacity and improved passenger facilities. Each five-carriage train will feature wide inter-car gangways, allowing passengers to move freely throughout the train. When coupled together, two units will form a ten-carriage train capable of carrying at least 1,100 passengers. Onboard features will include improved accessibility, additional bicycle spaces, charging points, and enhanced security through CCTV.

Piers Wood, Managing Director Ireland at Alstom said:

“This order for 100 new X’trapolis EMU carriages is another exciting step for Ireland's ambitious DART+ Programme – retiring the original 1984 fleet and introducing a modern and higher-capacity electric train across Greater Dublin. Together with the battery-electric units already on order, our trains will offer more reliable and lower-emission services, and deliver a transformation in accessibility and onboard information for passengers. We’re proud to partner with Iarnród Éireann, the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority to help double rail capacity for the DART and advance Ireland’s wider decarbonisation goals.”

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Transport said:

“This order of new DART carriages is the latest demonstration of the Government’s commitment to public transport and to rail in particular. It forms part of our NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for transport, which will see over €10 billion of investment in public transport infrastructure, in addition to €2 billion allocated to commence construction of MetroLink from the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund, over the period 2026 to 2030. The rollout of these carriages will help ensure that we continue to provide a sustainable and reliable DART service in the years ahead, as we work to expand the DART network under the DART+ Programme.”

Mary Considine, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann said:

“This is a crucial order for the continued development of rail services in the Greater Dublin Area. The longevity of the original DART is a testament to our Iarnród Éireann colleagues, who have managed and maintained the fleet, and also to the durability of electricity-powered trains. This has created a service that is iconic to its customers and the communities it serves. These new modern fleets will deliver real improvements in customer experience for all DART users across the expanded network under the DART+ Programme, and include major accessibility benefits.”

Anne Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority said:

“NTA welcomes this order for new DART trains which will complete the replacement of the original DART fleet. Since its introduction in 1984, DART has been transformational in changing travel behaviours and is now relied upon for travel by tens of thousands of people every day. These new trains will ensure DART continues to deliver sustainable transport along the corridor, improving the efficiency of the service and improving the reliability, accessibility and comfort of DART users.”

Image: Alstom