Irish Rail selects Alstom for train-charging infrastructure

author: FutureCar Staff    

Irish Rail has awarded a €28 million contract to Alstom for the installation of new charging infrastructure for their BEMU trains. The infrastructure will be installed at Drogheda and will enable the new battery-electric DART+ trains to operate to and from Drogheda before the planned electrification of the line. The project is part of the DART+ Programme and is funded by the National Transport Authority.

The charging infrastructure will be located on two platforms and one siding at Drogheda and will be completed by the end of 2024. It will allow the battery-electric DART+ trains to be recharged during service turnaround at Drogheda. The project also includes the electrification of three lines at Drogheda and the construction of a new sub-station at Marsh Road.

The initial order of DART+ carriages includes 65 battery-electric units and 30 electric units. The battery-electric trains will have 840 kWh of energy per five-carriage train and will be capable of operating in up to 10-carriage formation. These trains will operate on the Dublin to Drogheda service using the existing overhead lines and battery power.

The charging process will be automatic, with the pantograph extending to the charging platform upon arrival and lowering again once the train is ready to depart. The charging infrastructure will be capable of charging up to three 10-carriage length trains per hour. Overnight charging and regenerative braking will also be utilized to replenish the batteries.

In addition to the initial order, a further 90 battery-electric carriages have been ordered as part of the DART+ Programme. These trains will be delivered from Spring 2026 and will enter service from Summer 2026. Similar charging infrastructure is also being considered for other areas in the Greater Dublin Area, as well as for the Cork Commuter network and Wicklow.

The Chief Executive for Irish Rail, Jim Meade, expressed excitement about the investment, stating that it will provide a brand new fleet and extra capacity to customers on the Drogheda commuter route. He also mentioned the ongoing public consultation for full electrification and capacity improvements for the Drogheda line under the DART+ Coastal North project.

The CEO for National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, welcomed the announcement and highlighted the progress being made across the DART+ Programme. She emphasized that DART+ will greatly improve passenger capacity and service frequency in the Greater Dublin Area, providing a reliable alternative to private cars and contributing to the reduction of emissions.

FutureCar Staff