Tag: Dart+

Ecofil Launches Water Refill Stations at Irish Rail Locations

Ecofil, Ireland’s leading provider of sustainable bottle filling solutions in Ireland, has announced the continued rollout of its Iconic-V Outdoor Bottle Filling Station with the addition of Irish Rail locations nationwide. Malahide DART station is the first location under the new agreement. Mr Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Transport was present for the installation in Malahide.

The initiative, launched in collaboration with Irish Rail, aims to promote environmental responsibility and reduce single-use plastic among rail passengers. This marks the beginning of a phased national rollout. In the coming week, four additional stations at Bray, Drogheda, Mallow and Limerick will have the Iconic-V Filling Station installed, significantly expanding access to free and clean drinking water for rail users across the country.

The installation at Malahide reflects the busy and diverse footfall the station sees daily from commuters and festival goers to tourists exploring the area. It offers a convenient and sustainable amenity that supports reduced plastic waste and promotes refilling over single-use bottles, aligning with wider environmental goals across the Irish Rail network.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD said: “Providing free, premium filtered water at our train stations is a simple but effective way to encourage more sustainable behaviours. Initiatives like this, delivered through collaboration with forward-thinking companies like Ecofil, are key to delivering a greener, cleaner public transport system for everyone.”

Jimmy Guerin, Director of Ecofil said: “This partnership with Irish Rail represents a major step forward in our mission to make sustainable hydration accessible and convenient. Having our first unit live at Malahide, especially with the current high footfall around concerts, demonstrates just how impactful our water filling stations can be. We are proud to be supporting both public health and the environment at such a visible level.”

This initiative reflects Irish Rail’s ongoing commitment to environmental innovation and complements broader efforts across the transport sector to reduce the environmental footprint of daily travel. The rollout aligns with government sustainability goals and efforts to reduce plastic waste across the public transport network.

Ecofil designs and manufactures innovative water dispensing solutions that support sustainability goals and reduce environmental impact. As part of the ERG Group, based in Finglas and employing 38 people, Ecofil plays a vital role in helping communities across Ireland eliminate single-use plastics and embrace a greener future.

First of new DART+ trains unveiled

Iarnród Éireann has unveiled the first five-carriage train of the new DART+ Fleet, at Inchicore Works in Dublin.

The new DART fleet which will enable Iarnród Éireann to improve the customer experience across the Greater Dublin Area, including capacity, accessibility and customer information.

The five-carriage train is the first of 185 carriages already on order from rail manufacturer Alstom, and entering service from early 2026 onwards.  The trains were purchased in two orders as part of a framework agreement which provides for up to 750 electric/battery electric carriages over a ten-year period

The fleet orders, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under Project Ireland 2040, are part of the wider DART+ Programme.  DART+ is a series of infrastructure projects which, together with train orders, will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area’s rail network.  The DART+ Programme is a key element of the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, 2022-2042. DART+ will facilitate sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in our capital and its surrounding counties, through a series of fleet and infrastructure projects. The DART+ Programme is being delivered by Iarnród Éireann on behalf of NTA.

Including the first train, a total of 155 out of the 185 carriages on order are battery-electric which deliver more capacity for commuters in advance of electrification of the lines on which they will operate, with the balance of 30 being electric-only.  The first trains will operate on the Drogheda to Dublin Commuter route, with recharging facilities under construction at Drogheda Station.

The arrival of the new fleet, from Alstom’s Chorzów facility near Katowice in Poland, marks a significant milestone in Iarnród Éireann’s journey to become the backbone of the sustainable transport network in Ireland.

The carriages are the first part of the largest and most sustainable public transport fleet order in Irish history and, once operational, will further improve network accessibility and customer experience by offering:

  • Independent access with low-floor height doorway being equipped with an automatic retractable step, offering the potential for unassisted level access from suitable platforms, aligned with platform enhancements.
  • Wide gangways between carriages creating an open and spacious environment.
  • Improved facilities for wheelchair users, families and cyclists, with dedicated wheelchair and family spaces.
  • Transformed customer information systems on-board including large, high-resolution onboard displays with real-time updates, door illumination and additional features designed for the needs of sensory impaired customers including inductive hearing loops.
  • An advanced on-board CCTV system with cameras throughout every carriage, to enhance safety and security for customers and employees

As the first train in a brand new fleet on the Iarnród Éireann network, the carriages will now begin a rigorous regulatory approval, and testing and commissioning process, at Inchicore Works and on the Greater Dublin Area rail network, before entering service in early 2026.

Each 10-carriage train, made up of two of these five car train sets joined, will be the longest train size operable by the new fleet on current infrastructure, and will have capacity for at least 1,100 customers.

More carriages will arrive steadily over the coming months, with each set undergoing the testing and commissioning process.