Joe O’Brien welcomes order for battery-electric trains for Northern Commuter Line

14th December, 2021

Minister Joe O’Brien has today welcomed the announcement that the northern commuter line will benefit from the largest and most sustainable ever fleet order for Ireland’s public transport network, as part of the initial 95-carriage order to include electric and battery-electric DART fleet for delivery of the transformational DART+ Programme.

The order was confirmed today as Alstom were awarded a contract by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) for up to 750 new rail carriages over the coming decade. 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.

Welcoming today’s announcement, Minister Joe O’Brien 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, allowing it to benefit many more passengers in Fingal. 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 Commuter Line before electrification of the line is complete. This will improve capacity and frequency on the line as far north as Drogheda even before the DART+ Coastal North project is completed.  

I am also pleased that work on full electrification of the line from Malahide to Drogheda is progressing, with the first public consultation due to commence in January. The DART+ project is a vital part of improving the public transport network for the north of the county.

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.”