Alstom Signs €160M Deal: Dublin Rail Capacity to Double

DUBLIN, Ireland – Alstom has solidified its role in Ireland’s largest-ever public transport investment, signing a new €160 million contract with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) to supply an additional 100 X’trapolis railcars. This latest order, part of a ten-year framework agreement, brings the total number of new DART+ carriages to 285, paving the way for a complete fleet overhaul and a doubling of capacity across Dublin’s metropolitan rail network.

Main Body:

The new contract, officially signed on December 27, 2025, is the third order placed under a landmark framework agreement that could see up to 750 electric and battery-electric carriages delivered over the next decade. This specific tranche of 100 cars is part of a wider €173.9 million investment programme and brings the total capital committed to new electric and battery-powered trains for Ireland to approximately €670 million. The new fleet is set to completely replace the aging 8100 class DART units, which have served the capital’s coastal routes since 1984, heralding a new era of reliability and passenger comfort.

Engineered for high capacity and efficiency, the Alstom X’trapolis trains will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Chorzów, Poland. Each five-car trainset features wide, open gangways, allowing passengers to move freely along its entire length. In their maximum configuration, two coupled units will form a 10-carriage train capable of carrying at least 1,100 passengers, a significant increase over the current fleet. Critically, the orders include a mix of conventional Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) and 155 Battery-Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs). This BEMU technology will enable services to extend beyond the currently electrified DART network, with Alstom providing dedicated fast-charging infrastructure at Drogheda station to support these operations.

The fleet renewal is the cornerstone of the DART+ Programme, a multi-faceted project involving infrastructure and rolling stock upgrades across the West, South West, and Coastal corridors. The phased introduction of the new trains will begin in the first half of 2027, with the first 95 carriages deployed on the busy Dublin–Drogheda line. A further 90 carriages will follow from 2028. This strategic deployment is designed to meet surging demand, with Irish authorities projecting a record 23 million passenger journeys on the core DART network in 2025, supplemented by another 16 million on surrounding suburban lines.

Key Takeaways

• Major Fleet Expansion: The total order now stands at 285 X’trapolis railcars, marking a significant step towards modernizing Dublin’s entire DART fleet.
• Technological Advancement: The significant investment in BEMU (Battery-Electric) technology provides crucial operational flexibility, allowing DART services to reach communities on non-electrified lines for the first time.
• Capacity Transformation: The DART+ programme, supported by this new high-capacity rolling stock, is on track to double passenger capacity in the Dublin metropolitan area, addressing future transport demand.

Editor’s Analysis

This series of contracts between Alstom and Irish Rail is more than a simple rolling stock procurement; it’s a blueprint for pragmatic and scalable transport decarbonization. By leveraging a framework agreement and a mix of EMU and BEMU technologies, Ireland is avoiding the massive upfront cost and disruption of full network electrification while still expanding zero-emission services. For the global rail market, this hybrid-fleet approach is a powerful case study in how to modernize legacy networks effectively. It positions Alstom not just as a supplier but as a long-term partner in a national infrastructure strategy, a model that will likely be replicated in other European cities facing similar challenges of aging fleets and the urgent need for sustainable capacity growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total scope of the Alstom-Irish Rail agreement?

The agreement is a ten-year framework allowing for the purchase of up to 750 electric and battery-powered carriages. To date, three orders have been placed for a total of 285 carriages.

When will the new DART+ trains enter service?

The first batch of 95 carriages is scheduled to enter passenger service in the first half of 2027, primarily on the Dublin–Drogheda line.

What are BEMU trains and why are they being used in Dublin?

BEMU stands for Battery-Electric Multiple Unit. These trains can run on overhead electric lines like a standard EMU but also use on-board batteries to operate on non-electrified sections of track. This allows Irish Rail to extend DART services to new destinations without waiting for costly infrastructure upgrades.