The original DART fleet in place since it first opened in 1984 is set to be fully replaced following the funding of an order for 100 new carriages.
The latest order will cost approximately €174 million, and will serve to replace the original DART carriages used on the line from Greystones to Malahide/Howth.
It comes following two previous carriage orders, bringing the total number of DART carriages ordered to 285, or 57 five-carriage trains.
According to the Department of Transport, the first order was for 95 new DART carriages, which will mainly operate on the Dublin-Drogheda line from the first half of 2027.
The second order of 90 DART carriages is expected to enter service from 2028.
An estimated record 23 million passenger journeys will have been made on existing DART services from Greystones to Malahide/Howth in 2025.
Meanwhile, a further 16 million passenger journeys are estimated to have been undertaken across Dublin’s commuter rail services, which represents a record number.
The new fleet will consist of five-carriage train sets, which will be equivalent in length to the four-carriage train sets in the current DART fleet.
A 10-carriage train, made up of two five-carriage train sets joined, will be the longest train size operable by the new fleet on current infrastructure, and will have capacity for approximately 1,100 customers, the Department says.
The latest order has been placed with manufacturer Alstom by Iarnród Éireann, via the National Transport Authority.
Commenting on the order, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said that it is “crucial” for the continued development of the Dublin area’s rail services.
“The longevity of the original DART is a testament to our Iarnród Éireann colleagues, who have managed and maintained the fleet, and also to the durability of electricity-powered trains. This has created a service that is iconic to its customers and the communities it serves.
“These new modern fleets will deliver real improvements in customer experience for all DART users across the expanded network under the DART+ Programme, and include major accessibility benefits,” she said.