Transport Minister Seán Canney Confirms Rail Capacity Relief Awaits New Trains
Capacity issues on the Republic’s railway lines will not ease before the arrival of the first order of 55 new battery-electric trains go into service next year,
Minister for State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney said. The deployment aims to address surging passenger demand across the network.
Almost 22 million rail journeys, excluding the Luas, were recorded between January 1st and May 24th, 2026. This figure marks a 13 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to Central Statistics Office data. The first order consists of 11 five-carriage trains that can couple into 10-carriage formations, matching the length of current eight-carriage DART or commuter trains.
Drogheda Route Deployment Scheduled for 2027
The initial batch of battery-electric trains will enter service on the Dublin–Drogheda route from the first half of 2027. This rollout will free up 55 existing intercity and commuter carriages for redeployment elsewhere on the national network. During a Dáil debate regarding Galway city rail services, Canney stated that redeployed carriages from the Drogheda line will become available to improve Galway connections in 2027.
Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny noted that 285 total carriages have been ordered from French manufacturer Alstom. While some vehicles will replace the aging 1984 DART fleet, 185 carriages will provide new capacity. All trains in 2027 and early 2028 represent new capacity, and then it will be a mix of new capacity and replacement of the original Dart fleet through the remainder of 2028 and 2029,
Kenny said.
Single-Track Bottlenecks and Platform Limits Challenge Regional Expansion
Infrastructure constraints threaten to complicate the redistribution of older carriages. On the Dublin to Rosslare line, several station platforms cannot accommodate trains longer than three carriages. Furthermore, the single-track nature of the railway makes adding supplemental services difficult.
Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne highlighted severe conditions on the Rosslare route. Byrne stated that Irish Rail spent more than €700 between January and mid-August on emergency water supplies distributed to passengers during lengthy delays and extreme weather. Byrne also received commitments that a second order of trains will allow DART services to reach Wicklow around 2029.
Questions Regarding Irish Rail Capacity and Fleet Expansion
When will the new battery-electric trains enter passenger service?
The first order of 11 five-carriage battery-electric trains is scheduled to enter service on the Dublin–Drogheda route from the first half of 2027. Timetable adjustments over the past year briefly pointed to the second quarter of 2027, and Irish Rail officials confirmed that the schedule remains on course.
How many total carriages has Irish Rail ordered from Alstom?
Irish Rail has ordered 285 carriages from French builder Alstom, which includes 100 carriages funded to replace the original 1984 DART fleet. This procurement is part of a broader framework contract capable of supplying up to 750 vehicles over a 10-year period.
What infrastructure challenges affect the Dublin to Rosslare line?
The Dublin to Rosslare route features single-track rail infrastructure that restricts additional train scheduling. Additionally, multiple station platforms along the line are too short to handle formations exceeding three carriages.
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