IARNRÓD Éireann (IÉ) and Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) have launched the tender process for a new fleet to replace the 28 carriages built by De Dietrich in 1997, currently made up into three train sets, which operate the cross-border Enterprise service between Dublin and Belfast.
The tender initially is for a fleet of eight train sets, up to a maximum length of 200m long and includes an eight-year framework agreement.The procurement process includes provision for train driving simulators; the supply of an Automatic Vehicle Inspection System (AVIS); capital spares supply and a maintenance support contract for the new trains over 15 years.The estimated total value of the tender is €650m.
IÉandNIRplantohavethe entirefleetinservicein2028/29, tooperateanhourlyservice betweenDublinandBelfast, deliveringanend-to-endjourney time of under two hours or better.
The tender notice says that initial traction power will be a combination of internal combustion and battery electric, the latter drawing power at 1.5kV dc from overhead electrification that is being extended northwards from Dublin to Drogheda.
The new trains will be designed to transition to net-zero operation during their working life.This will involve removing the diesel power plant and power generation equipment and replacing it with traction equipment for dualvoltage overhead supply.