Did you know that these trains are produced in my country, Poland? These were produced at the ex-Konstal plant in Chorzów (kho-shoof), a neighbouring city to Katowice (kah-toh-vee-tsay), capital of Silesia voivodeship.
For those who are unaware, the DART network currently only runs from Greystones (south of Bray) up to Malahide and Howth in the north - this can be seen on the map shown at 8:55. As you can see it's not amazing coverage currently, only serving the coast and city centre. Aside from the trams, this is the only electrified rail in Dublin, and indeed the country, hence the battery/electric stock that will allow services to Drogheda in the north, Maynooth and Hazelhatch & Celbridge in the west and potentially Wicklow in the south (as someone who regularly commutes from south of dublin, I certainly hope) Ireland is a small country with very old rail lines, and we've not done the best job of keeping the infrastructure up to date. The result now is the DART, Commuter and Intercity services into Dublin all have to share these lines which makes for a very busy network. The DART shown off in this video is going to be in testing for a year due to the limited time in the schedule. Again looking at the map at 8:55, each branch shown has intercity services running through it. The north one has Belfast trains, northwest has Sligo trains, Southwest has Mayo (I think), Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork and Waterford services, and the South one has Wexford/Rosslare services. The schedule is tightly packed and additional services on one branch will impact another - this is one of the reasons there's only 6 Wexford trains a day (3 on the weekend). I don't mean to sound too cynical, I am very excited about the new DARTs, I just want to offer some perspective as to why the choice of battery, why these DARTs could be very valuable, and broadly why rail around dublin is a bit behind where it could be.
I don't think it's accurate to say we haven't kept the infrastructure up to date. It's more accurate to say we haven't added much to the old infrastructure. The old infrastructure has been looked after and replaced over time.
@@paschallehany369 Either the Northside or Southside track is closed on bank holiday weekends for maintenance. Isn't that a part of the catch up in preparation for the Dart+ upgrades?
@@paschallehany369 Don't kid ourselves, keeping Irish rail up to date would've meant electrifying the entire network approx. 50 years ago, along with increasing capacity. Keeping something up to date means developing it with the times.
I found it really impressive how you managed to record so much despite all the noise of the other press members. I’m looking forward to hearing more about these trains in the future…
Awesome to see this being covered by you Geoff, thanks for taking the trip across the sea! We're moving house soon and expect to be taking these trains near-daily on the to-be DART+ Coastal North line. So nice to see what's going to become a part of our everyday lives in the next while, and the people behind some of it all.
Thanks, Geoff, for coming to Dublin to cover these superb trains and giving them a thorough review. Great pointers on what to look out for on these trains.
Hi Geoff really great to see you back in Ireland very informative and interesting video loved the technical aspect much appreciated maybe you you would consider more videos from Ireland,lots of subscribers here
Er Geoff, The new DART units are NOT the first BEMU vehicles to operate in the Dublin area. Between 1932 and 1959 the service to Bray from Dublin was operated by the Drumm Battery Electric Units. They were the brainchild of Dr James J. Drumm Four 2-car articulated units were built by the Great Southern Railway at Inchicore Works. The first pair 'A' and 'B' being built in 1931 the second pair 'C' and 'D' being built in 1938. The Drumm BEMU trains had a maximum speed of 60mph/97kph (a speed of 72mph/116kph was claimed in service). With a range of 40 miles /64 kilometres on a single charge. The maximum power output being 600hp. The units were equipped with pantographs for recharging at the terminal stations. They could seat 140 passengers and had an all up weight of 85 tons. They were withdrawn from service in 1949 due to the deteriorating capacity of their batteries. CIE then converted them into locomotive hauled coaching stock. Following a period of disuse they were scrapped. With 'A' and 'B' being cut between 1956 and 1957. The other two units 'C' and 'D' following in 1964.
@ewanduffy I know that! They were still the first mainline battery electric multiple units to operate in "These Islands" Just like the claims that the battery electric units that Great Western are going to use are the first battery electrics to operate in London. Well in the 1880's The Electric Traction Syndicate and Chaimsonovitz Prosper Elieson (Anglicised to Charles Prosper Elison) introduced six 4wheel Battery Electric locomotives in 1886 to haul horse trams on the North Metropolitan Tramway in the Stratford area. They lasted until 1889.
Melbourne (Australia) has got X'Trapolis units too, but they look very different from these new DART units, and have been around for over 20 years. Incidentally, the suburban lines in Melbourne use the same track gauge as Ireland.
It's wild that Alstom has unveiled two 1600mm broad gauge trains (DART and Melbourne's XT 2.0), on opposite sides of the world, within days of each other.
The new feature of the trains that Ireland has supported is distinctive and deserves appreciation and admiration, such as a system that alerts the driver while driving. As well as separate vehicles that can be driven independently when the lower limb parts are independent of the vehicles. Thank you for sharing this truly incredible moment. Thank you to all Irish Rail staff and ALSTOM staff. It is a new launch in the European car market. All thanks to the Irish. 🇮🇪🇪🇺
Hopefully they will build a rail link from Dublin Airport to the city centre and out as far as Navan and Kells. So we are no longer the only country in Europe without a rail link to its airport. Build it and we will use it!!! Excellent work Geoff
@fiverZ A rail link has been"planned" for years but every government has been addiction to fossil fuel taxes and road construction. The MetroLink will be too little too late. It needs to go further out than currently planned.
Dublin is by no means the only capital city in Europe without a rail link to its airport. Most Eastern European capitals are lacking a rail link. The most egregious example of a rail-less capital airport that comes to mind is Prague, given its dense tram and metro network.
@@synchromystici5m when I got to Austin Texas, big city, it had only taxis into the city from the airport. It’s not unusual. As for Europe, yes we are a bit of an outlier. Loads of potential to get a Tram and a Train line to the airport.
I can predict how every geoff video opens: camera fades into a cinematic shot of the area he's in he starts saying where he is halfway through that, the camera cuts to him talking he then says what he's going to do. its the same format every time, and i love it.
That looks like the ship I took from Dublin to Hollyhead, except I did that in the middle of the night. The improvements they made with these new trains in room and for handicapped riders is truly amazing. The sensors for the driver to know there is a wheelchair in that space is an advantage should that person need assistance. Great video! Off to watch the bonus video!!!
Thanks Geoff. FWIW the priority seats were supposed to get very different colours to differentiate them, and to make them more visible for those with poor eyesight, a pity they went with just a logo on the headrest. Opportunity missed. The light/dark blue colours on the moquette represents the colours of the Dublin GAA (football & hurling) teams. Wavy lines represent the coast, river and canals along which the train lines run.
What an impressive train, well done DART. I can remember traveling to Pearce St in the days before the DART. It was dark, damp, dirty, not an enjoyable journey. Then the DART came along, a big improvement, now with DART+ it looks like a another great leap forward.
Congratulations, Dublin, on your beautiful new trains, and with more knee room, too! I have to admit, though, that my foamer's heart was also made glad by your old trains. Surface running, high-floor, overhead power, and rectilinear styling; mmmm ... so nice.
That train looks fantastic. Really looking forward to seeing them next year. The present trains are looking very tired after 40 years. Good to see new and modern trains. And more legroom too! Exciting times ahead. A great video Geoff.
The intercity trains in Ireland are quite nice so it's great seeing the commuter services finally getting up to spec with comfortable train-sets. This and reopening of old, mothballed lines makes me hopeful for rail services here. 😎
I'm from Dallas, Texas, where our transit system is also called DART. I thought for half a second that perhaps they were making progress on the rail line that's five years behind schedule. Nope.
I remember the trains that the first Dart units replaced in 1984: converted old carriages with plastic bucket seats hauled by loud snd smoky diesel locos. These new trains are great. Great livery! With up and down floors like the 777s in Liverpool, where I once met Geoff!
Used to holiday every other summer with family in Greystones, and have caught the Dart from Greystones to the city centre on several occasions. Looking forward to my next trip
Ok that's a beautiful train. Love the livery. Trains itself is simple and elegant, and I really appreciate these are battery trains. Can't wait to travel in them. I now wish that the network itself gets expanded fast with more connectivity and frequency. Island is small enough that we can really leverage trains to "shorten" the distances and enable people to live virtually anywhere in the country and still be able to commute to wherever they want in a reasonable time.
The features for heavy luggage is a godsend - I just wish they would extend the DART to the Irish Ferries & Stena Terminals at Dublin Port, if not the LUAS and/or have some passenger only ferries docking at Dun Laoire from either Holyhead or Liverpool old port (not Birkenhead) possibly starting the smaller vessels like the Irish Ferries Dublin Swift from Salford Quays to connect with the Manchester Metrolink trams, if not further along the Liffey to the Custom House - all we need now is the high speed rail tunnel from Holyhead to Dublin to connect into the main Dublin Belfast line
I like some of your ideas - interesting to see what kind of vessel could brave the Irish sea then scoot up the Ship canal into Manchester - but get a grip. Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead is well over 100km. I don't think even the Chinese would plan such a crazy project!
Great little documentary, thank you. It was good seeing all those Tokyu / Yokohama cars reconditions by Siemens over the years. That said, it is hard to beat something new and improved.
Irish Rail has Rail lines laid in the 19th Century. The sleepers were replaced by reinforced concrete in the 1980s. There are some turnouts that still have oak sleepers Retired Irish Rail Craftsman
Thanks for that, I look forward to seeing these trains come into service. Got a bit distracted playing the “who do I know in the background” game so I’m going to have to watch again.
Geoff didn't say, but that opening shot is on the _Stena Adventurer._ The other ferries on that route (usually) are the _Stena Estrid_ and the Irish Ferries ships _Ulysses,_ _James Joyce,_ and (in summer) _Swift._ The _James Joyce_ is currently sailing Rosslare-Pembroke with Holyhead closed.
Love the video, as I do all your videos. Here in Melbourne, Australia we are about to get our first X’Trapolis 2 train delivered, having been locally built. These will go into service with our existing fleet of X’Trapolis trains some 20+ years old now, which is a massive fleet if not the biggest fleet of one style of X’Trapolis trains in the world. Fun fact, Melbourne is also based on the Irish broad gauge of 5’3” or 1600mm.
Great clip! Decades ago Irish Rail bought some new locomotives, one was flown from London Ontario to Dublin to break it in. Once the rest arrived by ship, the found quirks were easily fixed. Ireland has a a 5’6” gauge and a smoother ride is the result. We travelled from the west coast to Dublin, then back. Unfortunately much of the former railway lines have been removed; like UK in the 1960s, they were done at the same time.
The fact there is no toilets on them and they will be going out to Maynooth and Drogheda is madness, the 8200’s also built by Alstom spent most of the time broken, the 85xx have atrocious seats. The best dart stock are the 8100’s nothing beats the light green, dark green and black checked pattern low back seats, reliable and dependant workhorses. Good to see the return of jump seats to the dart.
Excellent video! I'm looking forward to some more footage of riding these in service. I quite like the marquette as well and the sliding stair is brilliant!
The name of the ramp that comes out under the door is called a bridge plate because it bridges the gap between the train and the platform or sidewalk on low floor light rail trains
Geoff - Cead Mile Failte go mBaile Atha Cliath Éireann - it’s lovely to see you come back to Ireland - I hope you have a wonderful time with us in Ireland 🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪❤️😍🙏
We have had X’Trapolis in Melbourne for over 20 years. They keep meeting their performance targets so the government keeps ordering more, this year we are getting a whole new entry into the family. The bimode part is very interesting, I wonder if we could get that here.
I took the DART to Lansdowne Road once when there was a rugger match on. It was one of the top three most crowded trains I've ever been squashed in. I just couldn't believe how more people managed to get on at every station. (The other two were the Paris Metro in rush hour - worse than London - and the last train out of Munich during Oktoberfest).
Welcome to Dublin Geoff. Thanks for posting this update, which is interesting as always. It's very exciting to see what's on the way here. Just wish the process could speed up a little. 🤪🚇
Great video Geoff. I have watched DART make major improvements over the years, and the fact that these new trains have a beneficial effect on the way they can operate the network is a bonus. Nice trains, except I was rather reminded of the uncomfortable seats, sometimes referred to as 'ironing boards' that Siemens use on eg UK Class 700s! I personally bemoan the modern trends though that exclude carpeting, which if provided also reduces noise, and through carriages! I find that people much prefer (and I do) to be 'partitioned' within carriages with doors at both ends!
I hate to admit my only visit to Dublin's fair city was in 1990. So I'm surprised to hear the Dart was around then. OK, I'm not really sure what it is as it also has the name Luas. Possibly Dart is the regional rail network and Luas the tram, but that's a bit like saying Network Southeast is 40 years old. Literally all the lines were there well over a 100 years before that! In fact there were a lot more 140 years ago.
Hey Geoff it’s brilliant seeing you here in Ireland on the future Dart Fleet. I hope will take the Enterprise Northbound and visit The new station at Belfast Grand Central.
we have the X'Trap in melbourne australia, the first version we had is great, atleast for the time it was built, only short coming is the suspension which they are fixing with the X'Trap 2.0 which i think is coming into service in 2025 or 2026
Interesting. Alstom are one of three companies to be shortlisted to build and maintain emu's similar to these to run through my local area (between Palmerston North & Wellington) from mid 2028. If we can get trains this good I'll be rapt. I'm really liking the sounds of that Driver Fatigue Alert System.
Thanks for this update on the DART, Geoff. Good to see how Ireland has developed its railways so much in the last few decades. I was with CIE when the DART was first being developed and constructed - hard to believe how long ago it was. IE multiple units use a weird numbering system so each end has a different number e.g. 22201/22301. Also the north and south ends of DART stock have different numbers which is odd as I am pretty sure they cannot be turned. Seats look much better than the dreadful style used here on, say Class 387 stock. Why does modern rolling stock have to be given such stupid names! X’Trapolios??? At 4m38 secs the window now has some bloke’s grubby finger prints on it! Along with the LUAS trams, Dublin is so much easier to get around. No doubt much European money being spent - why did we duck out of the EU! Plenty more to explore on IE, Geoff, so do plan something for 2025.
To be fair, the UK and mainland Europe are very compact compared to the US. I think I read that most rail traffic, 90% plus, is freight in the US. It’s the other way around here.
Very nice. I'd have liked to have seen a bit more from the man who said that they had a bogey connecting two carriages, but it wasn't a Jacob's bogey. I didn't understand how a normal bogey could do that.
The original 8100 class units always seem similar to the Tyne and Wear metro cars which are also due to be replaced start to be phased out soon… hope to see a Geoff video when the new stadler units enter service!
I can’t wait to travel on these trains next year when they enter service. These battery units will also see the extension of the DART from Malahide to Drogheda.
Hang on. I didn’t do an Elbow test did I? Noooooo!!! 💪
Geoff, I'm surprised you haven't covered Belfast's new central train station, recently opened!
not really.
Ask #GuyGarvey #Elbow
Next level comments when Geoff is heckling himself :D
@@geofftech2 so no toilets
Geoff, an honour for all us train enthusiasts in Ireland to have you here reporting on the new dart trains! Thank you ❤️🇮🇪
Did you know that these trains are produced in my country, Poland? These were produced at the ex-Konstal plant in Chorzów (kho-shoof), a neighbouring city to Katowice (kah-toh-vee-tsay), capital of Silesia voivodeship.
Well done Poland. And thanks
@richardmoloney689 You're welcome! I'm Pole.
Cool
POLSKA
thank you Poland
For those who are unaware, the DART network currently only runs from Greystones (south of Bray) up to Malahide and Howth in the north - this can be seen on the map shown at 8:55. As you can see it's not amazing coverage currently, only serving the coast and city centre.
Aside from the trams, this is the only electrified rail in Dublin, and indeed the country, hence the battery/electric stock that will allow services to Drogheda in the north, Maynooth and Hazelhatch & Celbridge in the west and potentially Wicklow in the south (as someone who regularly commutes from south of dublin, I certainly hope)
Ireland is a small country with very old rail lines, and we've not done the best job of keeping the infrastructure up to date. The result now is the DART, Commuter and Intercity services into Dublin all have to share these lines which makes for a very busy network. The DART shown off in this video is going to be in testing for a year due to the limited time in the schedule.
Again looking at the map at 8:55, each branch shown has intercity services running through it. The north one has Belfast trains, northwest has Sligo trains, Southwest has Mayo (I think), Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork and Waterford services, and the South one has Wexford/Rosslare services. The schedule is tightly packed and additional services on one branch will impact another - this is one of the reasons there's only 6 Wexford trains a day (3 on the weekend).
I don't mean to sound too cynical, I am very excited about the new DARTs, I just want to offer some perspective as to why the choice of battery, why these DARTs could be very valuable, and broadly why rail around dublin is a bit behind where it could be.
Fingers crossed the doubling of Northside tracks to four tracks will ease that congestion under the Dart+ program.
I don't think it's accurate to say we haven't kept the infrastructure up to date. It's more accurate to say we haven't added much to the old infrastructure. The old infrastructure has been looked after and replaced over time.
@@paschallehany369 Either the Northside or Southside track is closed on bank holiday weekends for maintenance. Isn't that a part of the catch up in preparation for the Dart+ upgrades?
@@paschallehany369 Don't kid ourselves, keeping Irish rail up to date would've meant electrifying the entire network approx. 50 years ago, along with increasing capacity. Keeping something up to date means developing it with the times.
First class (pun unintended) Irish train and track update and description.
"Emergency panto down" Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is! (etc.) 😁 - More seriously, thanks for another great informative video.
It's behind you!
I'd definitely get a pen out and change that O to an S.
@@6yjjk Panto to a Brit has nothing to do with pants - or even trousers ...
@@johncassels3475 I know. I am one.
Is it a gaiety panto?
I found it really impressive how you managed to record so much despite all the noise of the other press members. I’m looking forward to hearing more about these trains in the future…
Awesome to see this being covered by you Geoff, thanks for taking the trip across the sea! We're moving house soon and expect to be taking these trains near-daily on the to-be DART+ Coastal North line. So nice to see what's going to become a part of our everyday lives in the next while, and the people behind some of it all.
Thanks, Geoff, for coming to Dublin to cover these superb trains and giving them a thorough review. Great pointers on what to look out for on these trains.
Hi Geoff really great to see you back in Ireland very informative and interesting video loved the technical aspect much appreciated maybe you you would consider more videos from Ireland,lots of subscribers here
Er Geoff, The new DART units are NOT the first BEMU vehicles to operate in the Dublin area.
Between 1932 and 1959 the service to Bray from Dublin was operated by the Drumm Battery Electric Units. They were the brainchild of Dr James J. Drumm
Four 2-car articulated units were built by the Great Southern Railway at Inchicore Works.
The first pair 'A' and 'B' being built in 1931 the second pair 'C' and 'D' being built in 1938.
The Drumm BEMU trains had a maximum speed of 60mph/97kph (a speed of 72mph/116kph was claimed in service). With a range of 40 miles /64 kilometres on a single charge. The maximum power output being 600hp.
The units were equipped with pantographs for recharging at the terminal stations.
They could seat 140 passengers and had an all up weight of 85 tons.
They were withdrawn from service in 1949 due to the deteriorating capacity of their batteries.
CIE then converted them into locomotive hauled coaching stock.
Following a period of disuse they were scrapped. With 'A' and 'B' being cut between 1956 and 1957.
The other two units 'C' and 'D' following in 1964.
@nicholaskelly1958 The Drumm Battery trains were not dual mode but battery only.
Great info - thank you! Did not know this!!
@@geofftech2 Now, that's how to reply to a 'Well, ACTUALLY" comment. You're a classy dude, Mr Marshall. (And yes, fun fact.)
@@ewanduffy Actually, battery and gravity. How much more "dual more" do you want? 🧐
@ewanduffy I know that! They were still the first mainline battery electric multiple units to operate in "These Islands"
Just like the claims that the battery electric units that Great Western are going to use are the first battery electrics to operate in London.
Well in the 1880's The Electric Traction Syndicate and Chaimsonovitz Prosper Elieson (Anglicised to Charles Prosper Elison) introduced six 4wheel Battery Electric locomotives in 1886 to haul horse trams on the North Metropolitan Tramway in the Stratford area.
They lasted until 1889.
Melbourne (Australia) has got X'Trapolis units too, but they look very different from these new DART units, and have been around for over 20 years. Incidentally, the suburban lines in Melbourne use the same track gauge as Ireland.
Also same voltage!
@@Taitsetwhy is that?!
@@LeMerch So we're ready to go when the direct Dublin-Melbourne tunnel gets built.
Prob Britain ?
They built our railways@@LeMerch
It's wild that Alstom has unveiled two 1600mm broad gauge trains (DART and Melbourne's XT 2.0), on opposite sides of the world, within days of each other.
The new feature of the trains that Ireland has supported is distinctive and deserves appreciation and admiration, such as a system that alerts the driver while driving. As well as separate vehicles that can be driven independently when the lower limb parts are independent of the vehicles. Thank you for sharing this truly incredible moment. Thank you to all Irish Rail staff and ALSTOM staff.
It is a new launch in the European car market. All thanks to the Irish. 🇮🇪🇪🇺
Hopefully they will build a rail link from Dublin Airport to the city centre and out as far as Navan and Kells.
So we are no longer the only country in Europe without a rail link to its airport.
Build it and we will use it!!!
Excellent work Geoff
Maybe by 2070 if this current century-old duolopoly clings to power after next week. Maybe...
MetroLink is planned for the airport.
@fiverZ A rail link has been"planned" for years but every government has been addiction to fossil fuel taxes and road construction. The MetroLink will be too little too late. It needs to go further out than currently planned.
Dublin is by no means the only capital city in Europe without a rail link to its airport. Most Eastern European capitals are lacking a rail link. The most egregious example of a rail-less capital airport that comes to mind is Prague, given its dense tram and metro network.
@@synchromystici5m when I got to Austin Texas, big city, it had only taxis into the city from the airport. It’s not unusual. As for Europe, yes we are a bit of an outlier. Loads of potential to get a Tram and a Train line to the airport.
Love the accessibility of this new rolling stock
Seconded, though we need to teach Geoff the simple word for a sliding out bit to match the platform -- a "ramp". 3:01
I can predict how every geoff video opens:
camera fades into a cinematic shot of the area he's in
he starts saying where he is
halfway through that, the camera cuts to him talking
he then says what he's going to do.
its the same format every time, and i love it.
ha ha, You got me!! this is what i do, yes!
It wouldn't be a Geoff video without him being on the floor at least once lol.
Tick
I agree if Geoff did not get on the floor then I would be worried
That looks like the ship I took from Dublin to Hollyhead, except I did that in the middle of the night. The improvements they made with these new trains in room and for handicapped riders is truly amazing. The sensors for the driver to know there is a wheelchair in that space is an advantage should that person need assistance. Great video! Off to watch the bonus video!!!
Thanks Geoff.
FWIW the priority seats were supposed to get very different colours to differentiate them, and to make them more visible for those with poor eyesight, a pity they went with just a logo on the headrest. Opportunity missed.
The light/dark blue colours on the moquette represents the colours of the Dublin GAA (football & hurling) teams. Wavy lines represent the coast, river and canals along which the train lines run.
It's a novelty not to see green :)
1980s seats, done in about 25 secs, horrible.
What an impressive train, well done DART.
I can remember traveling to Pearce St in the days before the DART. It was dark, damp, dirty, not an enjoyable journey. Then the DART came along, a big improvement, now with DART+ it looks like a another great leap forward.
Congratulations, Dublin, on your beautiful new trains, and with more knee room, too! I have to admit, though, that my foamer's heart was also made glad by your old trains. Surface running, high-floor, overhead power, and rectilinear styling; mmmm ... so nice.
They are the same gauge as the Xtrapolis trains in Melbourne Australia.
I think Ireland and Australia are the only countries which use it.
@@caw25shathere’s a part of the rail network in Brazil has the same gauge and in both Australia and Brazil it’s referred to as Irish gauge
@@caw25shaonly Victoria nd South Australia. NSW uses standard gauge, Queensland and Western Australia use narrow gauge. It’s a whole thing
That train looks fantastic. Really looking forward to seeing them next year. The present trains are looking very tired after 40 years. Good to see new and modern trains. And more legroom too! Exciting times ahead. A great video Geoff.
The intercity trains in Ireland are quite nice so it's great seeing the commuter services finally getting up to spec with comfortable train-sets. This and reopening of old, mothballed lines makes me hopeful for rail services here. 😎
I'm from Dallas, Texas, where our transit system is also called DART. I thought for half a second that perhaps they were making progress on the rail line that's five years behind schedule. Nope.
2:32 After several years has Geoff finally cracked the notorious Elizabeth Line no-luggage-rack problem?
I remember the trains that the first Dart units replaced in 1984: converted old carriages with plastic bucket seats hauled by loud snd smoky diesel locos. These new trains are great. Great livery! With up and down floors like the 777s in Liverpool, where I once met Geoff!
Used to holiday every other summer with family in Greystones, and have caught the Dart from Greystones to the city centre on several occasions.
Looking forward to my next trip
Thanks for sharing Dublin's new Dart Trains. IMpressive! Good transportation
Thanks,Geoff...exceellently produced video!!
Ok that's a beautiful train. Love the livery. Trains itself is simple and elegant, and I really appreciate these are battery trains. Can't wait to travel in them. I now wish that the network itself gets expanded fast with more connectivity and frequency. Island is small enough that we can really leverage trains to "shorten" the distances and enable people to live virtually anywhere in the country and still be able to commute to wherever they want in a reasonable time.
The features for heavy luggage is a godsend - I just wish they would extend the DART to the Irish Ferries & Stena Terminals at Dublin Port, if not the LUAS and/or have some passenger only ferries docking at Dun Laoire from either Holyhead or Liverpool old port (not Birkenhead) possibly starting the smaller vessels like the Irish Ferries Dublin Swift from Salford Quays to connect with the Manchester Metrolink trams, if not further along the Liffey to the Custom House - all we need now is the high speed rail tunnel from Holyhead to Dublin to connect into the main Dublin Belfast line
I like some of your ideas - interesting to see what kind of vessel could brave the Irish sea then scoot up the Ship canal into Manchester - but get a grip. Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead is well over 100km. I don't think even the Chinese would plan such a crazy project!
Love your videos and thanks for highlighting Dart+. Can’t wait for it.
Thats a great position for the USB chargers actually. Works so much better at head height
Very interesting Geoff. Looking forward to travelling on these trains.
Great little documentary, thank you. It was good seeing all those Tokyu / Yokohama cars reconditions by Siemens over the years. That said, it is hard to beat something new and improved.
I remember riding on the entire Dart Network except for Greystones. Lots of memories from back in 2010.
Irish Rail has Rail lines laid in the 19th Century. The sleepers were replaced by reinforced concrete in the 1980s.
There are some turnouts that still have oak sleepers
Retired Irish Rail Craftsman
Thanks for that, I look forward to seeing these trains come into service.
Got a bit distracted playing the “who do I know in the background” game so I’m going to have to watch again.
Nice the subs in Ireland got a upload about something happening here.Thanks Geoff.
You done a brilliant job to explain the new DART upgrades
Geoff didn't say, but that opening shot is on the _Stena Adventurer._ The other ferries on that route (usually) are the _Stena Estrid_ and the Irish Ferries ships _Ulysses,_ _James Joyce,_ and (in summer) _Swift._ The _James Joyce_ is currently sailing Rosslare-Pembroke with Holyhead closed.
7:30 all I can think of with emergency panto is a bunch of performers coming out of cupboards and preforming a pantomime
lovely trains those are
No opening windows too...
@@toyotaprius79 Which is a plus (working AC, no littering out of the carriage, better noise and heat insulation, all in all safer).
They do look awesome, hope to ride one if I ever go back to Ireland. Great video
I'm spending this Christmas in Ireland 🇮🇪 ❤ Good video
Love the video, as I do all your videos.
Here in Melbourne, Australia we are about to get our first X’Trapolis 2 train delivered, having been locally built. These will go into service with our existing fleet of X’Trapolis trains some 20+ years old now, which is a massive fleet if not the biggest fleet of one style of X’Trapolis trains in the world.
Fun fact, Melbourne is also based on the Irish broad gauge of 5’3” or 1600mm.
Paris' RER probably has a large X'Trapolis fleet too
Geoffrey - you 'broadcasting' from my jurisdiction confuses me... 😂. Welcome, Sir.
Great clip! Decades ago Irish Rail bought some new locomotives, one was flown from London Ontario to Dublin to break it in. Once the rest arrived by ship, the found quirks were easily fixed. Ireland has a a 5’6” gauge and a smoother ride is the result. We travelled from the west coast to Dublin, then back. Unfortunately much of the former railway lines have been removed; like UK in the 1960s, they were done at the same time.
Ireland has a 5' 3" gauge. India is the main operator of 5' 6" gauge.
The fact there is no toilets on them and they will be going out to Maynooth and Drogheda is madness, the 8200’s also built by Alstom spent most of the time broken, the 85xx have atrocious seats. The best dart stock are the 8100’s nothing beats the light green, dark green and black checked pattern low back seats, reliable and dependant workhorses.
Good to see the return of jump seats to the dart.
Excellent video! I'm looking forward to some more footage of riding these in service. I quite like the marquette as well and the sliding stair is brilliant!
the moquette looks great. but i'm dubious as to how long before the sliding steps stop working!
Absolutely amazing! I wish DART (Des Moines Area Rapid Transit) had half the foresight of the DART on your side of the pond!
Great for dart to get an upgrade.
As well as commuting great for visitors to viste seaside of Greater Dublin. Really makes the city.
Wow! That was interesting. Thanks Geoff.
The name of the ramp that comes out under the door is called a bridge plate because it bridges the gap between the train and the platform or sidewalk on low floor light rail trains
These look really good. I’ve not travelled on DART before, but these do look like an improvement compared to what I’ve seen on other videos.
Thank you for the video Geoff it was very interesting. ❤
From the sliding step im getting flashbacks from Stuttgart S-Bahn, awesome trains though!
Geoff - Cead Mile Failte go mBaile Atha Cliath Éireann - it’s lovely to see you come back to Ireland - I hope you have a wonderful time with us in Ireland 🇮🇪☘️🇮🇪❤️😍🙏
My visit was all too short, genuinely wanted to stay longer! Love Ireland 😊 🇮🇪
Amazing Video Geoff keep up the great content bro 👊😎
We have had X’Trapolis in Melbourne for over 20 years. They keep meeting their performance targets so the government keeps ordering more, this year we are getting a whole new entry into the family.
The bimode part is very interesting, I wonder if we could get that here.
Wow these new Dart trains in Dublin look very cool🔥
But Ireland need to make trains run from Dublin Airport to city centre.
I took the DART to Lansdowne Road once when there was a rugger match on. It was one of the top three most crowded trains I've ever been squashed in. I just couldn't believe how more people managed to get on at every station. (The other two were the Paris Metro in rush hour - worse than London - and the last train out of Munich during Oktoberfest).
Welcome to Dublin Geoff. Thanks for posting this update, which is interesting as always. It's very exciting to see what's on the way here. Just wish the process could speed up a little. 🤪🚇
Great video Geoff. I have watched DART make major improvements over the years, and the fact that these new trains have a beneficial effect on the way they can operate the network is a bonus. Nice trains, except I was rather reminded of the uncomfortable seats, sometimes referred to as 'ironing boards' that Siemens use on eg UK Class 700s! I personally bemoan the modern trends though that exclude carpeting, which if provided also reduces noise, and through carriages! I find that people much prefer (and I do) to be 'partitioned' within carriages with doors at both ends!
I hate to admit my only visit to Dublin's fair city was in 1990. So I'm surprised to hear the Dart was around then. OK, I'm not really sure what it is as it also has the name Luas. Possibly Dart is the regional rail network and Luas the tram, but that's a bit like saying Network Southeast is 40 years old. Literally all the lines were there well over a 100 years before that! In fact there were a lot more 140 years ago.
Luas is different, Dart started in around 1984, it stands for Dublin Area Rapid Transport. Dart is not National Transport
Luas (meaning speed in Irish language) is a tram system. DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit ) is the electric commuter train system.
@@limerick5931 Thanks so much. I mean, if you've heard of BART, it's pretty obvious what DART means.
Hey Geoff it’s brilliant seeing you here in Ireland on the future Dart Fleet. I hope will take the Enterprise Northbound and visit The new station at Belfast Grand Central.
we have the X'Trap in melbourne australia, the first version we had is great, atleast for the time it was built, only short coming is the suspension which they are fixing with the X'Trap 2.0 which i think is coming into service in 2025 or 2026
Great to see something new and shiny happening, should be on my route (Skerries) . Thanks.
I’m hoping the new darts will still have the iconic green livery
AWESOME !
The two shades of blue represents Dublin Gaelic Football/Hurling colours
Excellent video!! Congrats!
That driver alertness sensor is pretty cool. More trains should have that
Looking forward to riding these trains. Love the large windows!
I rode the DART once from the Stadium all the way up to Howth, great scenery so good thing those huuuuge windows :)
Great video Geoff
Thanks for covering something in Ireland!
Very informative. Great insight.
Really enjoyed that video of dart+. Can't wait to take a few trips on them.
Geoff on his travels fantastic 👍🏻
I think I need to book a trip to Ireland next year. It’s been a long time since I was last there.
Looks Very Modern & futuristic!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂
Interesting. Alstom are one of three companies to be shortlisted to build and maintain emu's similar to these to run through my local area (between Palmerston North & Wellington) from mid 2028. If we can get trains this good I'll be rapt. I'm really liking the sounds of that Driver Fatigue Alert System.
I think over here in the US in Connecticut are getting these models for the Hartford line so it’s cool to see
Love the 1+1 seating.
Thanks for this update on the DART, Geoff. Good to see how Ireland has developed its railways so much in the last few decades. I was with CIE when the DART was first being developed and constructed - hard to believe how long ago it was.
IE multiple units use a weird numbering system so each end has a different number e.g. 22201/22301. Also the north and south ends of DART stock have different numbers which is odd as I am pretty sure they cannot be turned.
Seats look much better than the dreadful style used here on, say Class 387 stock.
Why does modern rolling stock have to be given such stupid names! X’Trapolios???
At 4m38 secs the window now has some bloke’s grubby finger prints on it!
Along with the LUAS trams, Dublin is so much easier to get around. No doubt much European money being spent - why did we duck out of the EU!
Plenty more to explore on IE, Geoff, so do plan something for 2025.
thanks Ray, ha ha yes i put my hand on the window! Hoping to go back to IE again sometime ...
The seats are exactly the same as used on the 387 and other UK stock. Hard flat ironing boards.
@@alang5764 Appalling! Don't the designers ever learn.
While you are there, please travel to the north and visit the new Belfast station Geoff. It looks quite impressive. 👍
5:51 I spy with my little eye a road case for a large TV screen.
And 10:29 Let's hear it for stagehands humping a case. Unsung heroes!
Compared to the US, I love the railway systems in the UK and Europe. Whether it's HSR or the electrification of trains, it's years ahead.
To be fair, the UK and mainland Europe are very compact compared to the US. I think I read that most rail traffic, 90% plus, is freight in the US. It’s the other way around here.
Very nice.
I'd have liked to have seen a bit more from the man who said that they had a bogey connecting two carriages, but it wasn't a Jacob's bogey. I didn't understand how a normal bogey could do that.
The original 1984 DART carriages are the most spacious. The newer carriages are more cramped.
Great stuff.
Iarnród Éireann content!!!! Love it
Melbourne in Australia has variants of x’trapolis trains
these look so cool
Nice looking units
The original 8100 class units always seem similar to the Tyne and Wear metro cars which are also due to be replaced start to be phased out soon… hope to see a Geoff video when the new stadler units enter service!
Thanks Geoff, this is great to see! I do still prefer the original Siemens stock but I am looking forward to these new trains coming into service.
The original stock was built by Linke Hofmann Busch, not Siemens. Siemens only refurbished them recently.
I can’t wait to travel on these trains next year when they enter service. These battery units will also see the extension of the DART from Malahide to Drogheda.
Im looking forward to these comeing to cork too :)