Irish rail fleet and infrastructure plans

It's switched back to analogue on that train now, as it's back in regular service the past couple of weeks.

A question about fleet plans.

As the trains from the Alstom framework order are delivered and deployed across the GDA during the next few years, I think the idea is to move some or all of the 29000 DMU class out of the GDA.

And maybe some 22000 ICR sets will be replaced by the new trains.

Will this mean enough extra stock that there can be more frequency on regional routes? For example, Sligo line, Mayo line, Galway, Waterford, etc.?

What is the future of the 2600 class, built in 1993, entered service in 1994? They are 30 years old now.

in fairness all of those suburban diesel classes are clank wagons.

you are correct though the 29s are effectively scrap condition at this stage and need a full refurbishment if they are to remain in service.

the 22s are a more interesting case as while they have had refurbishments such as new engines ETC, the running of them on stop start suburban services is likely to shorten their life span as they aren't designed for it really.

Thanks.

Yes, the 2800 are grand.

I've yet to see a 29000 with the new floors; but have had a few with the new PIS (and old floors).

It’s been mentioned on here a number of times.
They’ve been replacing the floors on the 29s since last winter. Think there may have even have been photos of it posted.

There’s a few sets with the new PIS around. They don’t couple with the older sets, so almost always running as 8 pieces. Takes about a month for each new set to be fitted out, so another set each month going into service.

Passenger Information System I think, the thing that makes announcements and displays the stops (and the myriad of other things Irish Rail use them for such as CCTV messages and “mind the gap”).

I am trying to compare capital expenditure on roads with capital expenditure on transit.

It seems that roads capex is far higher?

During 2024, how many live construction is taking place on transit capex?

• Foynes line - work continues
• Kishoge station finished and opened
• Ceannt station, Galway - work started early 2024
• Cork - Kent station extra platform - construction work is underway during
• Cork - Midleton doubling work to start during autumn 2024
• Cork - new signalling?
• Waterford station - work is underway during 2024

That seems like much less spending than on new roads?

EDIT: I mean capex on new roads during the motorway building period.

There isn't a vast amount of road building actually underway either right now.

Public transport capex spending is to go up hugely in the next few years with Metrolink, Busconnect CBCs and DART+, as well as re-fleeting and whatever comes from FourNorth (that name may have been dropped - the project to look at quad tracking the Northern Line) and the AISRR.

Is construction actually underway?

Yes, good.

I worry about a new Govt, though.

If we are serious about modal shift, we need to see investment on a par with the development of the motorway network .

Sorry, what I'm really trying to compare is capex on transit now versus capex on new roads during the motorway building period.

What I mean is that given we have the GP in Govt, plus given that tax receipts are strong, I would hope to see capex on new transit infrastructure during 2023/2024/2025 on the same scale as the peak of motorway copnstruction period.

I would like to get data on that.

However, some projects can perhaps partially proceed. For instance, the N2 dualling from Ardee to Catleblayney is mostly online, this could proceed in smaller sections. I have the impression that Monaghan County Council wanted to move on this but someone is slowing things down.

October. Apparently.

Hopefully the passing loop at Sixmilebridge doesn't take as long as Oranmore's.

Five years have passed, and the application for planning permission still hasn't been submitted.

doubling limerick junction to limerick is a case of you need to double to the junction to the galway line anyway, and if you are doing that you may as well just go on further and do the lot.
so a passing loop won't suffice.

Well there isn't going to be demand to justify 2tph to Dublin, 2tph to Cork, and 1tph to Waterford for a long time if talking about direct trains. Realistically you could have an hourly direct train to Dublin and one to Cork, plus then changing to/from Dublin - Cork trains between the direct trains. If the timing can be gotten right, the Waterford train could potentially serve as the link between Limerick and the Dublin - Cork trains. Obviously the Ballybrophy line also can provide a link to trains to/from Dublin and it also serves other journeys too. That level of service doesn't necessarily mean separate 10 separate train paths per hour.

I really don't see double-tracking to LJ adding much, I'm convinced that money could do more good if spent elsewhere. Staying in the Limerick area, investment would be better put into the lines to Ennis or Nenagh.