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Irish Rail and Alstom Team Up: An Electrifying Shift in Irish Commuting

Irish Rail and Alstom Team Up: An Electrifying Shift in Irish Commuting
photo: Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail and Alstom Team Up: An Electrifying Shift in Irish Commuting
22 / 08 / 2023

In a groundbreaking step towards sustainable commuting, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) has enlisted the expertise of the French transport giant, Alstom, for a €28 million train-charging hub in Drogheda. Scheduled for a 2024 finish, this eco-friendly charging station will play a pivotal role for the new battery-powered DART+ trains, ensuring they’re juiced up and ready to roll before the entire railway line goes electric. These "green" trains, set to hit the tracks by 2025, will get their boost from the Drogheda station, especially handy during brief stopovers.

As part of the larger DART+ Programme, funded by the National Transport Authority, this venture doesn't stop at electrifying a few lines in Drogheda. There's talk of a state-of-the-art substation at Marsh Road, and with a nod from the Louth County Council, the project's wheels are set to be in motion by late 2023. What’s more, of the 95 carriages under the DART+ banner set to grace the tracks by 2025, a whopping 65 will be battery-driven. These modern machines can travel a commendable 80 km on a single battery charge, and the station at Drogheda ensures they’re always powered up.

Iarnród Éireann's Jim Meade is buzzing with excitement, foreseeing how DART+ could reshape the Drogheda commuter scene in mere years. Anne Graham of the National Transport Authority heaps praises on DART+, envisioning a future where commuters have cleaner, efficient travel options. On the collaboration's potential ripple effects, Alstom's Piers Wood notes the blend of economic and social perks, signaling a bright future for Irish commuters.

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