Iarnród Éireann is on a journey to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future, working responsibly to place sustainability at the heart of the service and infrastructure.
Iarnród Éireann targets 80 million journeys by 2030, and continues to deliver major projects and programmes across the country, helping more people travel more sustainably by:
- Investing in new, more sustainable trains. The new DART+ fleet will ensure a more sustainable and accessible service for the Greater Dublin Area and beyond. The first carriages of the new fleet recently arrived in Inchicore for testing and commissioning, before entering service in 2026. The replacement of the Enterprise fleet already underway will ensure a greener, faster, and more frequent service on the Dublin / Belfast line.
- Expanding the electrification of our network through the DART+ Programme and Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, subject to planning and funding approvals. For the DART+ Programme, significant progress has been achieved with the submitting of a Railway Order Application for DART+ Coastal North and the granting of Railway Orders for DART+ West and DART+ South West in 2024. Planning and development are underway to deliver the necessary infrastructure upgrades to operate DART+ Battery/Electric services to Wicklow by the end of 2028. In Cork, the new platform at Kent Station is nearing completion, signalling and telecommunications works are well advanced and construction has started on the twin tracking of the Glounthaune to Midleton line. Design development is underway for new stations, a new depot, and the electrification of the line.
- Increasing our use of alternative power sources and fuels both on and off the track. Iarnród Éireann is installing solar panels on depots and buildings where feasible and converting more heavy maintenance machinery and rolling stock to alternative fuels.
- Supporting sustainable procurement and the development of a greener supply chain. Iarnród Éireann is proud to be a founding partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School in Ireland supporting suppliers to drive sustainability and carbon reductions through the provision of training courses and tools.
- Working for our people and our communities through things like our station art programme, our innovative partnership with Dogpatch Labs, our Health & Wellbeing and professional development programmes and investing in growing our existing rail network, for example this year saw the formal commencement of the design development and planning phases for the Navan Rail Line.
For more information visit www.irishrail.ie.