Iarnród Éireann Launches New InterCity Train Fleet

July 12th 2006

The transformation of Iarnród Éireann’sIntercity fleet is underway, as Minister for Transport Martin Cullen TDofficially launched the new fleet for the Cork-Dublin route, 10^th July.

Guests travelled on a special returnservice from Heuston to Cork to mark the occasion.  The newfleet delivers to customers the highest standards of quality and comfort everseen on Ireland’s railways, and, when all 67 carriageshave entered service later this year, will see an hourly service operate eachway between Cork and Dublin.

The hourly service, commencing inDecember, doubles the frequency of trains on the route and increases route passengercapacity by over 80% to 16,000 seats daily.  With a record high of almost4 million passenger journeys on the route last year, the dramatic expansion ofservices will ensure that growth in demand can be accommodated and developed.

CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann Chairman Dr JohnLynch speaking at the official launch said, ‘Wiith thisfleet, we are delivering major, tangible benefits directly to our Cork-Dublincustomers, with further new fleet orders already placed for the rest of thenational network.  This investment will ensure that rail can play thefullest role possible in meeting the transport needs of our citizensnationwide."

 
Excluding the international BelfastEnterprise, the new Intercity trains, manufactured by Construccionesy Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles - CAF, are the first new dedicated Intercitytrains in the Iarnród Éireann fleet for over 20 years.

 
The order marks the beginning of athree-year process that will see Iarnród Éireann’s Intercity fleet transformedfrom being the oldest in Western Europe to the newest, with 217 carriages in totalon order at a cost of €440 million.  Iarnród Éireann’s Intercity fleetrenewal programme is funded by the Irish Government under the Transport 21investment programme, and will be complete by 2008.

---

Subscribe or spread the word:

• More Irish Railways news articles
• More Iarnród Éireann news articles