Irish Rail orders 18 battery-powered multiple units (BEMUs) aimed at improving the sustainability of Ireland's busiest commuter belt
Alstom, the world leader in smart and sustainable mobility, today signed a spare parts supply contract with Irish Rail (IE) for 18 more five-car X'trapolis trains and 15 years of technical support and a ten-year framework contract announced in December 2021.
Irish Rail has ordered a total of 37 five-car X'trapolis trains, which will provide greater capacity and decarbonisation benefits prior to electrification of the expanded DART+ network.
Nick Crossfield, Alstom UK and Ireland Managing Director, and Piers Wood, Alstom Ireland Managing Director, met with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan TD, National Transport Authority Chief Executive Officer Anne Graham, and Irish Rail Chief Executive Officer Jim Meade at Irish Rail's Connolly Station headquarters on Friday morning. met to officially sign the new order.
“As the world's leading innovator and supplier of green mobility solutions, Alstom is here to long-term support Ireland in delivering transformative change to its citizens through sustainable rail travel,” said Nick Crossfield, Alstom Managing Director UK and Ireland. “This additional order of X'trapolis trains demonstrates Irish Rail's intention to move swiftly to green the commuter network of Greater Dublin, Ireland's most populous commuter area, as a first step in this national transformation.”
Jim Meade, Irish Rail Chief Executive Officer, said: “As this welcome acceleration for our DART+ Fleet is confirmed, the benefits of the framework agreement with Alstom are becoming more evident than ever before. We can respond quickly with this larger unit order under contract to provide a transformative change for our services and our customers. These 90 additional BEMU wagons, combined with last year's order of 95 units, will help us at Irish Rail achieve our goal of being the backbone of Ireland's sustainable transport network. We are excited to continue working with Alstom to provide expanded services in the Greater Dublin Area, improved facilities for our customers and a cleaner environment for our country.”
The ten-year framework agreement allows the purchase of up to 2025 electric and battery wagons for the DART+ network, scheduled to open in 750. Alstom will provide a range of service solutions in addition to the fleet. Technical Support and Parts Supply agreement for the first 15 years of fleet operation, which deploys HealthHub and TrainScanner technologies for predictive maintenance and provides three train simulators to support driver training. Expansion of the DART fleet as part of the DART+ Program is funded by the National Transport Authority under the National Development Plan 2021-2030.
Due to enter service in 2025, 31 trains with 6 five-car battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) and 37 five-car electric multiple units (EMUs) currently ordered, traveling more than 80 kilometers outside electric DART can do. network under pure battery power, thus taking old diesel wagons from non-electrified lines. These X'trapolis trains will form the first modern battery fleet in Ireland and will contribute to expanding Ireland's carbon reduction efforts through public transport.
According to Irish Rail, today's order of 18 battery-powered multiple units (BEMUs) will benefit the Maynooth/M3 Parkway and Kildare line services and provide more capacity for passengers before electrification.
The energy stored in the battery system will be replenished through fast charging stations at selected terminal points and by recovering brake energy while new battery-electric train sets are in motion. This will enable, for example, the new battery electric fleet to offer return services from Dublin to Drogheda with fast charging at Drogheda Station.
DART+ is a transformative program that will put rail travel at the heart of Ireland's sustainable transport network. Funded by the National Transport Authority under the National Development Plan, DART+ is an investment that will double the capacity and triple the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area network, facilitating development to improve sustainable mobility and quality of life in the capital and surrounding counties.
Alstom X'trapolis for Ireland
Alstom's highly successful, modular X'trapolis commuter train platform with more than 6000 cars sold worldwide is also manufactured in the European Union and will be specially adapted for the DART+ programme.
Each 82-metre DART+ train will have space for 550 passengers, with wide walk-through passages, low floors and automatic retractable steps to maximize accessibility for all passengers. Other features include advanced passenger features such as dedicated bike and family areas, charging facilities for mobile phones, e-bikes and e-scooters; and advanced CCTV systems throughout the train to increase safety and security for customers and employees.
Alstom will also continue to support the DART+ fleet, provide technical support and spare parts, and implement HealthHub and TrainScanner technologies for predictive maintenance for 15 years.
Alstom is at the forefront of sustainable and smart mobility with a complete portfolio of green mobility solutions, including the world's first hydrogen train, Coradia iLint currently in passenger service in Germany, and battery electric trains already sold in Germany (Coradia Continental). BEMU).
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