IRISH Rail (IE) has signed a contract with Rolls-Royce to rebuild three MTU PowerPacks on a Hyundai Rotem 22000 class DMU with new EcoWorld transmissions from ZF to improve more efficiency and reduce noise emissions.

IRELAND’S Public Service Obligation (PSO) services saw an increase in both funding and passenger numbers last year, the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) statistical bulletin shows, with rail accounting for a third of passenger journeys.

IRELAND’s National Transport Authority (NTA) says 251 million passenger journeys were made in 2017 on Irish Rail (IE), Dublin’s Luas light rail network, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, representing an increase of 16.3 million or 7% over 2016.

David Franks, Irish Rail (IE) chief executive, talks to Keith Barrow.

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.

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).

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.

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.