100 Brand Spanking New Darts Heading Our Way

Get on the E train…

ack in November 2022, 90 battery-operated Darts were approved at a projected cost of €179…

And for Wicklow Town commuters, the good news was that, hey, they’d be heading their way.

We’re still waiting to hear more on those fine carriages, but now The Department of Transport has announced that it is ordering 100 brand, spanking new, energy-efficient Darts.

The idea being that these newbies will completely replace the oldies, the original fleet having served us coastal commuters since the Dart was first launched in 1984.

This new €173.9m investment is the final stage in a series of government orders for new Darts, bringing their total spend on the project to €670m.

The new 5-carriage train sets will feature wider gangways, allowing passengers to move freely through the full length of the train, as well as enhanced accessibility, bicycle storage, device charging, and CCTV for added security. When joined together as 10-carriage trains, they will be able to carry at least 1,100 passengers — a major boost for Wicklow commuters at peak times.

Says Minister For Transport Darragh O’Brien, “I’m delighted that Wicklow passengers will see such a tangible improvement to their services. The rollout of these new carriages will ensure the DART continues to meet record passenger demand while providing a safer, more comfortable journey.”

The 1984 launch of the Dart

Iarnród Éireann’s CEO Mary Considine meanwhile thanked the original Darts for their long-standing service, stating that it was “a testament to the durability of electric trains and the dedication of our teams.”

With over 23m passenger journeys expected along the Greystones-Howth service, 2025 is set to be a record-breaking year for the Dart.

The new trains will be delivered in stages, entering service in 2027-2028, with the final 100 carriages serving Wicklow from 2029.