Irish Railways, Iarnród Éireann, and Northern Ireland operator Translink have selected Stadler to supply a new generation of trains for the Dublin–Belfast Enterprise rail service.
The contract covers the delivery of eight new trains and associated simulators and the provision of maintenance services for a period of 15 years, with an option to extend for a further 15 years.
Although Stadler had been designated the preferred bidder in September, the public announcement was blocked by an appeal lodged by CAF during the standstill period.
However, the Supreme Court in Dublin lifted the injunction on November 26, stressing that the delay in the contract risked losing co-financing through European programs administered by SEUPB and affected the objectives of reducing emissions and increasing accessibility.
Manufacturer Stadler will deliver trains based on the Flirt platform, configured to operate both on Irish Rail’s 1,500 V DC electrified network and in diesel mode, with integrated batteries for short distances, including in the area of the new Belfast Grand Central station and to the York Road depot, where they will be maintained.
Each train will have two diesel engines mounted at the conductor end in a “power car,” eliminating the need for underfloor engines. When the Northern Ireland network switches to 25 kV AC, this module can be converted to full electric traction by replacing the engines with pantographs, transformers, and specific equipment.
The interior configuration features articulated pairs of carriages, eight motor bogies, wide central doors with a movable step for level boarding, low-floor areas in all carriages, and six dedicated pushchair spaces, located away from toilets for a more accessible experience.
The trains will include eight toilets, two of which comply with the PRM-TSI standard, six bicycle spaces, a mix of bay-type and unidirectional seats, and a high level of comfort, as explicitly required in the procurement specifications.
The driver’s cab will retain the Flirt design with a central driver’s seat and space for a second person. The trains will be equipped with ETCS, will have a selective door opening function, and will be equipped with 22 external CCTV cameras.
According to the contract, the new trains for the Dublin–Belfast Enterprise rail service will be delivered starting in 2028 to enter the testing period, and from 2030 they will be put into service, the year in which the class 201 locomotives and De Dietrich carriages will be withdrawn.
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