Multiple units of Ireland explained

A wide variety of diesel and electric multiple units have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists all those that have been used. Except with the NIR Class 3000, the numbers given by each class in the lists below are those allocated to the coaches that make up the units in that class, otherwise, unit numbers are not used in Ireland.

Republic of Ireland

Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), which controlled the Republic's railways between 1945 and 1987, mainly used locomotives and hauled stock for its passenger trains. What diesel multiple unit cars it did have were numbered in the 26xx series. Since 1987, Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has been increasing the use of this type of train, to replace older locomotives and carriages. The only electrified railway network in Ireland is the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, in addition to the Luas which runs on a separate network. Its fleet of electric multiple units are numbered in the 8xxx series.

Despite appearing to be a DMU (especially the Driving Van-Trailer end), the Dublin Cork service Mark 4 is an 8-car Push–pull train.

Diesel multiple units

ClassManufacturerDate BuiltNumber BuiltWithdrawnImageScrapped
Initial Order1951–1956 66 198765
GNR Order1951–1956101975All
Bulleid OrderInchicore Works19561975
1956–1957 12 1972–1975
1974 (Hired from NIR)31990
199317still in use0
1997–1998 12 2012
2
Tokyu Car Corporation 2000 10 still in use2
2002–2005 29 0
2007–20112019–63

Electric multiple units

ClassManufacturerYear BuiltNumber BuiltWithdrawnImageScrapped
Drumm Battery TrainsInchicore Works1931
1938
41949All
1983–1984 40 still in use2
Alstom 1999–2000 5 2007–20081
Tokyu Car Corporation 2000 4 still in use0
2001 3
2003–2004 10

Northern Ireland

The majority of passenger services in Northern Ireland have been operated by diesel multiple units since the mid-1950s (the major exception being the locomotive-hauled Enterprise service between Belfast and Dublin), under the tenure of both the Ulster Transport Authority (1948–1966) and Northern Ireland Railways (since 1967). From 2001, all items of rolling stock in use on NIR had 8000 added to their number so as to be part of the Translink number series, which incorporates their road vehicles. The 3000 Class stock are the first multiple units to be numbered from new in the Translink series. NIR purchased an additional 20 Class 4000 DMUs which entered service in 2011 and 2012.

NIR purchased a Windhoff Multi-Purpose Vehicle for use as the Rail Head Treatment Train, equipped to lay sandite and high-pressure water. The MPV was procured to replace a converted Class 80 unit.

ClassManufacturerNumber BuiltIn ServiceWithdrawnImage
AEC Class GNR SetsGNR Works,Dundalk 20 Power Cars

(10 After 1958)

1950–1972 1972
UTA 6 & 7UTA Works2 Power Cars1951–1972
BUT ClassGNR Works,Dundalk24 Cars1957–19801980
NIR Works 14 x 3-car sets 1952–1978 1978
NIR Works 2 x 5-car sets
10 × 3 car sets
1958–1981 1981
NIR Works 8 x 3-car sets1966–1986 1986
BREL 2, 3, 4 or 6 cars per set1975-2017 2011 (passenger use)
2017 (departmental use)
1 x single car 1981–1990 1990
BREL 9 x 3-car sets 1985–2012 2012
CAF23 x 3-car sets2005-presentstill in use
CAF13 x 3-car sets
7 x 4-car sets
2011-presentstill in use

Great Northern Railway (Ireland)

The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) straddled the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, and so was not incorporated in either the CIE or UTA. However, mounting losses saw the network purchased jointly by the Irish and British governments on Tuesday 1 September 1953. It was run as a joint board, independent of the CIE and UTA, until Tuesday 30 September 1958 when it was dissolved and the remaining stock split equally between the 2 railways.

Railcars in preservation

NumberOriginal companyIn servicePreserved byLocation
BSligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway1947–1971Downpatrick & Co. Down RailwayDownpatrick
6111CIÉ1952–1987
450 Class458Northern Ireland Railways1987–2012
798
788
Two–car80 Class691978–2017
749
Two–car80 Class90
7521979–2017
RB002British Rail1984–1990Riverstown Old MillRiverstown, Louth
Railcar 1Northern Counties Committee (LMS)1933–1965Railway Preservation Society of IrelandWhitehead
Railbus EGreat Northern Railway1921–1965Ulster Folk and Transport MuseumCultra
1County Donegal Railways1906–1956
101932–1959
121934–1959Foyle Valley RailwayDerry
151936–1959Donegal Railway Heritage CentreDonegal
181940–1959Fintown RailwayFintown
191951–1959Isle of Man RailwayIsle of Man
20
712CIÉ1962–2005Irish Traction GroupDownpatrick
713Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway
149876773British Rail1970–1993Quirky GlampingEnniscrone
62411
76844

See also

External links