Iarnród Éireann
 Iarnród Éireann's current logo since 2013. | |
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiaryof astate-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | CIÉ Railways Division(1945–1987) |
| Founded | 2 February 1987 |
| Headquarters | Connolly Station,Dublin1, D01 V6V6 , |
Area served | Ireland |
Key people | Jim Meade (Chief Executive) Frank Allen (Chairman) |
| Revenue |  €297.4million(2019)[1] |
| €529 million (2019)[1] | |
| €4.2 million (2019)[1] | |
| Owner | CIÉ(100%) |
Number of employees | 3,897 (2019) |
| Parent | Córas Iompair Éireann |
| Subsidiaries | InterCity Commuter DART Iarnród Éireann Freight |
| Website | Iarnród Éireann Website |
Iarnród Éireann,(Irish pronunciation:[ˈiəɾˠnˠɾˠoːd̪ˠˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ]) orIrish Rail,is the operator of the nationalrailway network of Ireland.Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary ofCóras Iompair Éireann(CIÉ). It operates all internalInterCity,Commuter,DARTandfreightrailway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly withNorthern Ireland Railways,theEnterpriseservice betweenDublinandBelfast.In 2019, IÉ carried a record peak of 50 million passengers, up from 48 million in 2018.[2]
Until 2013, Ireland was the onlyEuropean Unionstate that had not implementedEU Directive 91/440and related legislation, havingderogatedfrom its obligation to split train operations and infrastructure businesses, and allowopen accessby private companies to the rail network. A consultation on the restructuring of Iarnród Éireann took place in 2012. The derogation ended on 14 March 2013 when the company was split in 2 sectors: Railway Undertaking and Infrastructure Manager.[3][4]
Organisation[edit]
At the time of its establishment, the company referred to itself as Irish Rail and adopted the four railsIRlogo. In 1994, the company brought the Irish form of its name to the fore, introducing a logo andcorporate brandingbased on the lettersIÉ(Iarnród Éireann) branding and logo. Both languages remained part of the official company name ( "Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail" ). In January 2013, a new logo was introduced with a newbilingualbranding; it made its first appearance in early January on online timetables, before officially launching on the 21st.[5][6]In late 2013 the logo was updated again with a new font.[7]
Operationally, services are divided across four regional areas:
- NorthernandEasternservices are managed fromConnolly(includingSligoin the North-West)
- SouthernandWesternservices are managed fromHeuston
Services[edit]
Passenger services[edit]
IÉ's passenger services are branded under three main names;InterCity,CommuterandDART.
InterCity[edit]
InterCityservices are long-distance routes radiating mainly from Dublin. The Belfast – Dublin service, jointly operated withNorthern Ireland Railways,is branded separately asEnterprise.Dublin's two main InterCity stations are Connolly and Heuston. Intercity services run to/fromCork,Limerick,Tralee,Ennis,Galway,Waterford,Rosslare Europort,Sligo,Westport,WexfordandBallina.Dublin's third major station,Pearse,is the terminus for much of thesuburban networkin the Greater Dublin area. An additional two InterCity services runs from Limerick toLimerick Junctionand from Limerick Junction to Waterford. This service formerly operated through to Rosslare Europort but services between Waterford and Rosslare Europort ceased after the last train on 18 September 2010. Bus Éireann now operates route 370 through the affected towns as replacement transport.[8]
A new service began on 29 March 2010 fromLimericktoGalway,as part of the Western Rail Corridor, reopening the long-closed line.[9]
A January 2012 national newspaper article suggested that Iarnród Éireann was expected to seek permission in the near future from theNational Transport Authorityto close theLimerick–Ballybrophy railway lineand theLimerick–Waterford line.[10]
Commuter[edit]
The majority ofCommuterservices are based in Dublin, which has four commuter routes: Northern (toDrogheda MacBride), Western (Connolly Station orDocklandstoKilcock/M3 Parkway), South-Western (toSallins and Naas Railway Station) and South-Eastern (toKilcoole). SeeDublin Suburban Railfor more details. TheCork Suburban Railcurrently has three Commuter services: toMallowandCobh,and a third service toMidletonwhich became operational on a part of the disusedYoughalbranch line on 30 July 2009. Limerick Suburban Railcurrently consists of two lines toEnnisandNenagh,with shuttle services toLimerick Junction.A Commuter service operates between Galway toOranmoreandAthenry.[citation needed]
Commuter trains also operate on shuttle duty for branches from the main InterCity services from Mallow to Tralee (off the Dublin – Cork route) and fromManulla Junctionto Ballina (off the Dublin – Westport route), as well as acting as InterCity trains for Dublin – Rosslare and some Dublin – Sligo services, and as the aforementioned Limerick – Limerick Junction – Waterford service.[citation needed]
DART[edit]
The north–south route along Dublin's eastern coastal side is also host to DART, Ireland's only electrified heavy-rail service. The DART consists of many types of trains, the oldest and most famous one being the8100 Classwhich still operates, now extensively refurbished.[citation needed]
Services Table[edit]
The following is a simplified table of Monday - Friday off-peak services, various irregular calling patterns have been omitted for clarity.[11]
Freight services[edit]
Iarnród Éireann also has responsibility for running freight services on the Irish network through its Freight Division – which recorded a tonnage decrease of 19.2% in 2019,[1]and as of 2020, there are 3 freight flows running throughout the country. This operates both Railfreight trains and a network of road haulage through various distribution nodes throughout the country. Iarnród Éireann Freight is subdivided into three sections:
- Bulk Freight – specialises in operating full trainloads of freight, usually bulk movements of single products such as cement, mineral ore or timber.
- Intermodal – container trains, currently operated between Waterford Port and Ballina and Dublin Port and Ballina.
- Navigator – the freight forwarding division, particularly associated with the transport of automotive stock parts.
Operational details[edit]
The Enterprise route (Dublin to Belfast) is well regarded. However, it is only double track and serves both local and intermediate Commuter as well as InterCity traffic. Hence any delay has knock-on effects. Also, there is limited platform availability at Connolly Station in Dublin. There was also a persistent problem with engine overloading, as Enterprise locomotives also supplied coach power. However, since September 2012, additional power is provided by separate Mark 3 generator vans.[citation needed]
The Cork-Dublin route was formerly the "premier line" of theGreat Southern and Western Railway,one of the biggest pre-CIÉ operators. Rolling stock on this route consists ofMark 4trains, which were built in Spain, complete with DVTs for faster turn-around.22000 Class DMUsbuilt in South Korea came into service from early 2007 replacing older coaching stock on most other InterCity routes. These 183 carriages are described by the company as the "Greenest diesel trains in Europe".[13]
The former Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD had announced that an additional 51 railcars had been ordered for the company for a planned introduction on services between Dublin, Louth, and Meath. They were placed into service in 2011/2012 but this plan was badly affected by the recession with 21 surpluses to requirements at the end of 2012.[5]
The maximum operational speed of InterCity trains on the IÉ rail network is 160 km/h (100 mph), although the design speed of theMark 4carriages is 201 km/h (125 mph).
Since 2019, Irish Rail has been trying to recruit more female drivers.[14]
1916 station renaming[edit]
Although the majority of Iarnród Éireann's stations are simply named after the towns they serve, a number of stations in major towns and cities were renamed after leaders of the 1916Easter Rising,on its 50th anniversary in 1966:[15]
- Dublin Connolly(formerly Amiens Street)
- Dublin Heuston(formerly Kingsbridge)
- Dublin Pearse(formerly Westland Row)
- Dún Laoghaire Mallin
- Bray Daly
- Cork Kent(formerly Glanmire Road)
- Kilkenny MacDonagh
- Limerick Colbert
- Tralee Casement
- Dundalk Clarke
- Drogheda MacBride
- Sligo Mac Diarmada
- Galway Ceannt
- Waterford Plunkett
- Wexford O'Hanrahan
Network Catering[edit]
IÉ'sNetwork Cateringunit used to provide a trolley service of food and drink, a snack car and (on some routes) a restaurant service. It also operated a restaurant atDún Laoghaire.[citation needed]According to Iarnród Éireann's annual report, the unit lost €297,000 in 2004.[16]In 2006, Iarnród Éireann outsourced the catering on the Dublin-Belfast service to Corporate Catering Ltd,[17]and all InterCity services were taken over byRail Gourmetin March 2007.[18]Rail Gourmet withdrew from the contract in 2020, and no longer provides catering for any Irish Rail services.[2]
In 2023, a contactless-only catering service began on the Dublin-Cork route.
Rolling stock[edit]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2021) |
The company has a fleet size consisting of 547 carriages (excluding the Enterprise service):
- InterCityservices have a fleet of 265 carriages.
- Commuterservices have a fleet of 148 carriages.
- DARTservices have a fleet of 134 carriages.
- Dublin-BelfastEnterprisehas a fleet of 28 carriages.
InterCity and Enterprise fleet[edit]
Locomotive fleet[edit]
Current[edit]
- CIE 071 Class/NIR Class 110locomotive
- IE 201 Classlocomotive
Former[edit]
- CIE 001 Classlocomotive
- CIE 201 Classlocomotive
- CIE 121 Classlocomotive
- CIE 141 Classlocomotive
- CIE 181 Classlocomotive
Commuter fleet[edit]
Current[edit]
- IE 2600 ClassDMU
- IE 2800 ClassDMU
- IE 29000 ClassDMU
- IE 22000 ClassDMU
Former[edit]
- IE 2700 ClassDMU
- IE 2750 ClassDMU
- IE 8200 Class EMU
DART fleet[edit]
Current[edit]
Former[edit]
Future fleet[edit]
IÉ's increasing fleet usage has led to requirements being made for the procurement of additional vehicles. DART services are running with all trains formed of 4–8 cars, while 54 sets of 63 fleet ofICRsare committed to services with 56 required on Friday. To this end, IÉ plans to purchase a significant number of new ICR vehicles – an initial purchase of 41 will be made for delivery in 2021, comprising three new trains, with the remainder planned as intermediate vehicles to lengthen existing units. The deal for the new vehicles is intended to include options for up to 40 further vehicles.[22]There are also plans for a total replacement of the existing DART fleet, which will be combined with extensions to the DART network. The framework for the DART fleet is planned for up to 600 vehicles formed into four-car and eight-car sets, split into both pure EMU andBEMUtrains.[22]For immediate fleet capacity increases, IÉ planned refurbishment of its 2700 Class DMUs, which was subsequently cancelled. Instead, IÉ is discussing the possibility of sourcing surplus DMUs from theBritish network,withClass 170sandClass 185savailable.[22]
See also[edit]
- Coaching stock of Ireland
- Diesel locomotives of Ireland
- History of rail transport in Ireland
- List of companies of Ireland
- List of railway stations in Ireland
- Multiple units of Ireland
- Transport in Ireland
References[edit]
- ^abcdIarnród Éireann."Iarnród Éireann Annual Report 2019"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 5 March 2021.Retrieved31 December2020.
- ^abMcCrave, Conor (8 January 2020)."'Strong growth' for public transport sector as passenger numbers increased 9% last year ".TheJournal.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 14 January 2020.Retrieved14 January2020.
- ^"Irish government looks at rail restructuring as derogation ends",Railway Gazette International,London, 14 March 2012, archived fromthe originalon 20 January 2018
- ^O'Carroll, Sinead (13 March 2012),"Changes to Irish Rail on way as Ireland gives up EU exemption",TheJournal.ie,archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2012,retrieved15 March2012
- ^abReilly, Jerome (3 March 2013)."Irish Rail defends new logo cost".Irish Independent.Dublin.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2013.Retrieved28 March2013.
- ^"New Irish Rail and DART logos".Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2022.
- ^"MARK_4_DRIVING_TRAIL_W_NEW_LOGO_KENT_STATION_CORK_OVERVIEW_P1560475".30 September 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2022.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 20 December 2011.Retrieved23 April2011.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Limerick to Galway rail line reopened".RTÉ News.29 March 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2021.Retrieved3 September2020.
- ^McCárthaigh, Seán (2 January 2012)."Iarnród Éireann may close rail service amid falling demand".Irish Examiner.Archivedfrom the original on 6 June 2012.
- ^Rail, Irish."Train Timetables by Route".Irish Rail.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2023.Retrieved5 September2023.
- ^https://journeyplanner.irishrail.ie/webapp/?start=1&REQ0JourneyStopsS0G=Dublin%20Heuston&REQ0JourneyStopsS0ID=A%3D1%40O%3DDublin%20Heuston%40X%3D-6292152%40Y%3D53346511%40U%3D80%40L%3D6000037%40B%3D1%40p%3D1719590746%40&REQ0JourneyStopsZ0G=Westport&REQ0JourneyStopsZ0ID=A%3D1%40O%3DWestport%40X%3D-9510048%40Y%3D53796206%40U%3D80%40L%3D6000085%40B%3D1%40p%3D1719590746%40&journey_mode=single&REQ0JourneyDate=02%2F07%2F2024&REQ1JourneyDate=02%2F07%2F2024&REQ0JourneyTime=allday&REQ1JourneyTime=allday&Number_children=0&Number_students=0&Number_adults=1&language=en_GB
- ^"National and Commuter Fleet Investment".Iarnród Éireann. Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2019.
- ^Burns, Sarah (2 January 2019)."Irish Rail recruiting 100 drivers over next four years".The Irish Times.Archivedfrom the original on 8 November 2020.Retrieved3 September2020.
- ^Duffy, Rónán (30 April 2016)."The 15 Irish railway stations named after the executed 1916 leaders".TheJournal.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 30 October 2020.Retrieved3 September2020.
- ^"Annual Report and Financial Statements 2004"(PDF).Iarnród Éireann. p. 19.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2 April 2015.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Annual Report and Financial Statements 2006"(PDF).Iarnród Éireann. p. 6.Archived(PDF)from the original on 20 October 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
- ^"Our Companies".Rail Gourmet. Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2013.
- ^"InterCity".Iarnród Éireann. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2015.
- ^"Iarnród Éireann Commuter Fleet Information".Iarnród Éireann. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2018.
- ^"Iarnród Éireann DART Fleet Information".Iarnród Éireann. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2018.
- ^abcPritchard, Robert (February 2019). "Current and Future Fleet Development on Irish Rail".Today's Railways.Platform 5.
External links[edit]
- Irish Rail Official Site – Timetables, bookings, operations, and corporate site
- Irish Railway Record Society
- Eiretrains – Irish Railways Past & Present
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Iarnród Éireann
- CIÉ
- 1987 establishments in Ireland
- Irish brands
- Rail transport in the Republic of Ireland
- Rail transport in Northern Ireland
- Passenger rail transport in Northern Ireland
- Railway companies of the Republic of Ireland
- Railway companies of the United Kingdom
- Government-owned railway companies
- Department of Transport (Ireland)