41 new ICR centre cars

No sets are being reformed to factory, the bulk of units will have a new B2 car inserted. The remaining 3 car sets remain with the stock B car.

There are 2 6 car configs, actually 3

5 coach First +1 new car = 6

5 coach First +1 new car + NIR package = 6

4 coach +2 new cars = 6

I actually can't believe there is one in traffic today. Officially the slowest piece of rolling stock to enter traffic ever in Ireland.

They really were a bad idea. My understanding also is that from an accounting point of view, they have to be depreciated to the same stage as the last sets to traffic, as without the end cars, they are useless. So they are already deemed over 10 years old at day 1.

If they knew then what they know now, they should have just ordered new trains altogether. We are now using technology from 17 years ago as our newest IC stock. As LX says, the next orders should be going in for the future diesel ICR fleet, given the length of time to bring into traffic.

Finally, can someone let us know what the final ICR fleet will look like and where the new 41 cars will slot into?

One wonders if they will deploy these on the busiest services , the afternoon Kilkenny-Dublin I'm looking at you, at weekdays resembles a calcutta express due IE only running a 3 car on one of the busiest college routes and then blaming it on lazy LJ platforming

Short platforms will now be the big problem, fairly sure Rathmore platform 2 is limited to a 3 coach ICR

Its short

4 car is 93m long, Rathmore P2 is 89m declared usable length, 96.5m total so doesn't meet the standards.

It really needs to be 145m usable so 2 6 cars can pass. Banteer would also need some work

There are multiple tight points on the network, Castlerea, Ballyhaunis are another 2 and of course Kilkenny the biggest pain of them all

Good to see them in service. Look very very bright compared to the old coaches which isn't a good thing.

Suprised to see they have gone for the old table color that was on the frist few sets. Window's don't look tinted though I have noticed most door window's are no longer replaced with the old spec either.

Every platform, even on the quietest branch, should be able to take a 4-car train.

that's correct.

63 sets, no increase in sets.

once electrification of the kildare line takes place then that will release a lot of sets to the routes they should be operating so there should be enough to go round on the long distance routes then hopefully.

There's no increase in sets, but because many services are currently run by coupling two sets together (e.g, two 3-car sets), it'll now be possible to run those services with a single 6-car set and free up the 3-car for another service.

generally the connolly suburban is 29 operated but ICRS do make appearences on those services, some of them are maintained at droghida.

most if not all 29 sets should be displaced eventually thanks be to jesus, well hopefully anyway.

Yeah, in the timetable as 7 piece ICR, as is the 6.35 from Newry.

Current plans put 13 half length battery DART units in Drogheda from 2025 (so read 2026) that would eliminate any 4 car 29k operations at peak and release that 7 piece ICR to better work, the 29k's released go to Maynooth and Docklands to strengthen services and release some ICR's as well, there is another batch of half length battery DART units due 2026 so Drogheda Dublin could go entirely electric by 2027, leaving the Dundalk Dublin as 29k

As above the issue becomes platform lengths very quickly if you want to increase capacity on a network which is mostly single track

When the first batch of new darts arrive can 29ks be transferred to the Phoenix Park tunnel service's, I know there top speed limits them on that line but I'm sure they would be fine as far as Newbridge and at the very least Hazelhatch.

kildare itself would be a problem granted but within the 4 track section the faster boarding allowed should get them over the line surely.

i'm not a regular user of the kildare services at all but when i have the ICR that operated it didn't go very fast anyway but maybe i was unlucky for whatever reason.

i don't know if it could be done that quick but certainly it can be done that is for sure.

they would do it if it suited them you can be guaranteed of that, just like a lot of their operational methods and requirements, subject to change if it suits/they want it to/whatever.

It’s not a massive changeover actually and can be done easily enough. It’s not a refresher, but they are not like driving a loco versus ICR. They’ve been there before and units have moved around over the years.

Also, not every driver would need to sign for them.

However, the 29s should only be used to Hazelhatch only. They can’t keep up after that as they go plus 70mph which is what they are limited to.

Certainly scope to use them Heuston side.

christ no, the sooner those heaps of **** are burned the better.

why are they holding on to them, they aren't coming back so they should just cut them up at this stage.

I've been wondering this myself. ( also why the 2nd spare Enterprise Set isnt out and about either )

Based on what I read about Ryanair and their orders of new Boeing 737 aircraft, they seem to be in revenue service weeks after arriving from the USA.

Yet these ICR coaches have taken nearly 18 months.

I still can't understand that.

They were bought to have 7 on the road and one in the shop , not have 25% of the fleet not being used.

Sorry - my mistake. I was referring to the Dublin-Cork MK4s. 3 out and 1 in maintenance is fine.

Speaking of the Mk4s, I see on Irish Rail social media that they're refurbishing the 1st class cabins. They look nice, leather seats is a good choice but such a light colour must surely make stains more easily visible. Can't believe they kept the blue tinted windows - who wants to sit on a carriage designed to deter heroin users from finding the veins 😂

*checks Mark 4 build dates*

*looks at the recent announcement that VIA Rail will absolutely, positively, not kidding this time, retire the 1940s/1950s long distance rolling stock by 2035*

I guess it depends on what you mean by old. But modern trainset construction, materials and electric/electronic fit is not tuned to half century or longer lifespans.