DART+ Fleet Reveal
November 13 2024
The long awaited public reveal of the first of the new DART+ fleet took place today in Inchicore works. The first train off the assembly line in Poland arrived in recent weeks and was mated with its wheels and batteries in Dublin.
This is first of 37 new trains on order, 31 are fitted with a battery and 6 are electric only. The electric only trains will operate on the existing DART line to ensure more trains can operate at full length.
Subject to completing all testing and certification requirements, the first trains will enter service in early 2026 between Drogheda and Dublin.
We extend our thanks to Irish Rail Corporate Communications and DART+ project team for the invitation.
There Is A Very Big Battery
The reason we have battery trains is because of a lack of faith in the Irish Government and planning system to fund and approve projects in a timely fashion. No one will say this on record, but battery was the ultimate each way play.
It was originally planned to have electrification live on the Maynooth line by end 2025, that didn't happen. Going battery was the solution to ensure trains could be used even if the overhead wires hadn't been installed.
So the new fleet comes with a masive 840KWh of battery which is enough to cover 80km+ at up to 145kph. Not bad for a train which weighs in a 141tons.
This battery will be charged at a special facility in the plaforms at Drogheda station and is also charged when the train is braking. It is not possible to change from the overhead wire while moving or stationary in any meaningful way as this would overload the overhead wire system.
Sadly the battery wasn't charged today...
Whats Good
In short a lot, the new trains address many of the bugbears of many commuters and meet all modern standards in terms of accessibilty, security and best practice.
On board you find a bright airy space, full walk through train.
For all images below, right click and open in a new window for a larger version.
Better Seat Spacing
A long standing complaint on the existing DART fleet is the ridiculous lack of leg room. New fleet, lots of leg room as all seats are further apart, measuring an extra 15cm seat to seat over the existing fleet.
No annoying heating duct taking up space for your feet, existing fleets have heating duct at floor level which heavily restricts the foot space of passengers in the window seat.
Cantilevered seats so lots of room underneath for bags and easier to clean. The seats are hung from the sidewalls so there are no supports or posts under the seat. Luggage can slide under the seats and no longer do we have the unslightly seat supports which always looked filthy.
Better Passenger Information
Significantly enhanced passenger information displays. More route information, and boarding side.
Live passenger load information so passengers can be encouraged to move to quieter carriages
Full walk through trains
Greater sense of space and ease to find a seat.
Better security as you are able to move through the train
Compliant with accessibility standards
These will be the first DART carriages to fully comply with all accessibility requirements and feature an automatic gap closer to bridge the gap to the platform. This was not available for demonstration.
Two dedicated separate wheelchair and two separate buggy spaces per train set.
Power
USB A and C charging at all seats including the wheelchair space, previously only in the know passengers knew of the two hidden sockets in each DART carriage.
Whats Not So Good
Livery
Gone is the distinctive and traditional green in favour of a white scheme which is unlikely to last long in Irish weather conditions.
External symbols for wheelchair, bike and buggy spaces are small relative to the train size. Doesn't follow the all blue door approach taken on other fleets. Those with poor eyesight, a dark day or just infrequent users will struggle to locate these designated spaces.
The Hidden Step
While a full walk through train its not step free, the very outer ends of the train are up a step, this caught quite a few out during the media event. It will take some getting used to.
Interior
Not everyone is a fan of the interior design, particularly the yellow grab rails and the navy/blue seat moquette with yellow. This quite a change from the eariler mocks ups with lighter blue/green moquette with lime green hand rails
Curiously the Irish Rail PR photos of the train show it with the green handrails. Lime green certainly meets the accessibility contrast requirments, its already used on the Dublin Cork Mk4 fleet of trains.