IRISH Rail (IE) is in talks with Ireland’s National Transport Authority (NTA) on the acquisition of a fleet of electro-diesel trains to enable the extension of Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) services to stations beyond the capital’s electrified suburban network.

THE first 54.9m-long Alstom Citadis LRV for Dublin’s Luas light rail network arrived at the city’s Sandyford depot on November 16 after completing its journey from Alstom’s plant in La Rochelle, France.

IRISH Rail (IE) published a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on September 19 for the design, supply and safety validation of trackside equipment for its new Train Protection System (TPS).

IRELAND’s minister of transport, tourism and sport Mr Shane Ross witnessed the start of dynamic testing on Dublin’s Cross City Line on June 17, when the first gauging tests were carried out on the extension of the Green Line from St Stephen's Green to Broombridge.

IRELAND’s National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) issued a request for tenders on March 6 for a contract to operate and maintain Dublin’s Luas light rail network from 2019.

A significant and growing backlog of maintenance and renewals is threatening Irish Rail’s (IE) ability to sustain operations, according to a report released for public consultation by the National Transport Authority on November 15, which warns IE has only a small window of opportunity to repair its balance sheet.

IRISH Rail (IE) introduced a new cross-city passenger service in Dublin on November 21 following the completion of a €13.7m project to upgrade an existing line which was formerly used by freight trains and empty passenger trains.

LUXURY train operator Belmond launched Ireland’s first luxury train on August 30, when the Grand Hibernian departed from Dublin Heuston station carrying 40 guests on the first leg of a six-day tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

IRISH Rail (IE) operated a 440m-long container freight train between Dublin North Wall and Claremorris on June 27 as part of trials to introduce longer freight trains later this year to boost its competitiveness.

IRISH Rail (IE) has issued a tender for the supply of a new National Train Control Centre (NTCC), which will replace the existing Centralised Traffic Control Centre (CTCC) located at Connolly Station in Dublin, which dates from the 1970s.