Enterprise Substitutions (DMUs instead of Enterprise stock)

[IrishRailScene]

So far in 2024, there have been five substitutions:

06/01/2024 2005 ex Belfast ICR
31/01/2024 0650 & 1235 ex Belfast & 0930 & 1520 ex Dublin C3K
11/02/2024 1300 ex Dublin & 1705 ex Belfast 29K (non-Enterprise)
17/02/2024 0735 ex Dublin 22003 & 1035 ex Belfast 3002+3003

What else will come of this??

 

[MCR247]

Is that a lot? From an outside perspective (without further information) it doesn’t seem that’s a ridiculous amount.

 

[superalbs]

I agree, five seems like a pretty decent amount, and other than the IE 29000, the replacement trains aren't even that bad. Shame if you booked first class though.

 

[hexagon789]

So far in 2024, there have been five substitutions:

06/01/2024 2005 ex Belfast ICR
31/01/2024 0650 & 1235 ex Belfast & 0930 & 1520 ex Dublin C3K
11/02/2024 1300 ex Dublin & 1705 ex Belfast 29K (non-Enterprise)
17/02/2024 0735 ex Dublin 22003 & 1035 ex Belfast 3002+3003

What else will come of this??

Some of those aren't subs, there are booked unit-worked Enterprise diagrams, at least on weekends.

 

[johnnydoe]

The ageing, undersized Enterprise fleet is due to be replaced in the next few years. They are adding additional services this year too.

It will be 8 trainsets of 200m long consists. Tri-mode, (25KV AC, 1.5KV DC and diesel/battery) while they start the process of electrifying the whole line.

I'd say if the train is successful, Dublin to Cork will follow-suit with a follow-on order. The entire Cork line is due to be electrified by 2040 with the Cork commuter network electrified as far as Mallow well before that. Basically, it's the same set of circumstances as Dublin to Belfast Enterprise, just that's staggered later.

 

[IrishRailScene]

Some of those aren't subs, there are booked unit-worked Enterprise diagrams, at least on weekends.

11/02/2024 29K sub was due to 1820 ex Dublin involved in a fatality the night before

Some of those aren't subs, there are booked unit-worked Enterprise diagrams, at least on weekends.

Yes. CAF sets work the 0936 ex Belfast & 1221 ex Dublin (Saturdays). ICR set works the 1820 ex Dublin & 2106 ex Belfast (Saturdays) and 1300 ex Dublin & 1705 ex Belfast (Sundays). Will not run this weekend.

.

The ageing, undersized Enterprise fleet is due to be replaced in the next few years. They are adding additional services this year too.

It will be 8 trainsets of 200m long consists. Tri-mode, (25KV AC, 1.5KV DC and diesel/battery) while they start the process of electrifying the whole line.

I'd say if the train is successful, Dublin to Cork will follow-suit with a follow-on order. The entire Cork line is due to be electrified by 2040 with the Cork commuter network electrified as far as Mallow well before that. Basically, it's the same set of circumstances as Dublin to Belfast Enterprise, just that's staggered later.

I suspect the new trains could be something similar to the IET Class 800s that GWR use.

 

[johnnydoe]

I suspect the new trains could be something similar to the IET Class 800s that GWR use.

I'd hope that they'd be at least 2.85m wide, in line with the existing 22000 and Mark 4 offerings.

Platform length is at a premium in Ireland so hopefully it will be multiple units rather than locomotive-powered to maximise car numbers like the 800s. These need to do until the 2050s and deal with increased travel numbers. We're not Austria with their massive platform lengths.

 

[IrishRailScene]

I'd hope that they'd be at least 2.85m wide, in line with the existing 22000 and Mark 4 offerings.

Platform length is at a premium in Ireland so hopefully it will be multiple units rather than locomotive-powered to maximise car numbers like the 800s. These need to do until the 2050s and deal with increased travel numbers. We're not Austria with their massive platform lengths.

800s usually come in 5 - 9 car sets.

Open to correction though.

Is that a lot? From an outside perspective (without further information) it doesn’t seem that’s a ridiculous amount.

As the year goes on failures are likely to continue...

The DD sets, while they are comfortable and good trains, they have been unfortunately breaking down constantly;

A few months ago (May & June 2023) There were over 20+ failures in 28 days. Ranging from;

05/05/2023 0650 ex Belfast & 0930 ex Dublin C3K
07/05/2023 1105 ex Belfast & 1400 ex Dublin C3K
08/05/2023 0800 ex Belfast & 1120 ex Dublin C3K
11/05/2023 0650 & 1235 ex Belfast & 0930 & 1520 ex Dublin C3K, 0650/0930 3 car, 1235/1520 6 car
15/05/2023 0735 & 1320 ex Dublin & 1035 ex Belfast ICR 1605 ex Belfast & 1900 ex Dublin C3K
16/05/2023 1520 ex Dublin 29K(?) from Dundalk if did returned empty, 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K
18/05/2023 0650 & 1235 ex Belfast & 0930 & 1520 ex Dublin C3K
19/05/2023 1520 ex Dublin ICR returned empty 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K
20/05/2023 1650 ex Dublin & 2005 ex Belfast ICR
21/05/2023 1000 ex Dublin & 1305 ex Belfast ICR, 1600 ex Dublin & 1905 ex Belfast 29K
23/05/2023 0930 ex Dublin & 1235 ex Belfast 29K
01/06/2023 1650 ex Dublin & 2005 ex Belfast ICR
05/06/2023 1120 ex Dublin 29K returned empty 1405 ex Belfast C3K returned empty
06/06/2023 1805 ex Belfast terminated at Dundalk, 2050 ex Dublin IE Railcar to Dundalk C3K onwards
07/06/2023 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K
08/06/2023 1405 ex Belfast & 1650 ex Dublin C3K
10/06/2023 1235 ex Belfast failed, 1520 ex Dublin ICR to Newry and CAF from Newry, 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K
11/06/2023 1200 ex Dublin ICR to Newry and CAF from Newry, 1605 ex Belfast C3K returned empty
12/06/2023 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K
13/06/2023 0650 ex Belfast & 0930 ex Dublin C3K
15/06/2023 1120 ex Dublin failed at Clontarf Rd, passengers transferred to 1221 ex Dublin C3K, 1405 ex Belfast C3K returned empty
24/06/2023 1805 ex Belfast & 2050 ex Dublin C3K

And counting - that is 21 failures over a period of 50 days.

 

[duesselmartin]

the DD sets are over 25 years old. Did they have any modernisation/modification except the interior? (electrics ect.)

 

[IrishRailScene]

the DD sets are over 25 years old. Did they have any modernisation/modification except the interior? (electrics ect.)

I don’t know, giving the refurbishment was almost 10 years ago - I can’t remember off the top of my head. If I do find anything I’ll get back to you.

I must be quite lucky - considering I’ve only had 1 or 2 substitutes for a DD failure (replaced by a CAF or 29k), did get an ICR in November 2022 on the 1035 ex Belfast but that was due to low rail adhesion.


22036 in Connolly Platform 1 off the 1035 xBelfast on 04 November 2022. Arrival was at 1255 (15 minutes late) due to a DART ahead. DD set can be seen on 1320 xDublin (The same set I travelled on the 1900 xDublin later on).

0735 Dublin - Belfast departed Dundalk 11 minutes late due to a train fault.

Something interesting to note,

When the 1035 xBelfast is a CAF set, it will operate like this:

1035 xBelfast 6x3000
1320 xDublin 4/8x29000
1605 xBelfast 4/8x29000
1900 xDublin 6x3000

0735 Dublin - Belfast departed Dundalk 11 minutes late due to a train fault.

 

[gazthomas]

Here in Transport for Wales land we'd be happy with these kinds of substitution

 

[IrishRailScene]

Here in Transport for Wales land we'd be happy with these kinds of substitution

Really?

 

[Wakeful]

I suppose the most important factor is that the service actually runs.

Fun fact: only Lanyon Place/Portadown/Newry/First Plus host are permitted to sell first class tickets for the Enterprise on the NIR side. Staff like myself have been advised that despite having the ticket option, never to sell First Plus because you don't know what will end up operating the next Enterprise service, partially due to reliability but also because there is no seat guarantee. NIR's Class 3000 DMUs don't have any First Plus provision and the same goes for a lot of the Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Class 22000s, so if an Enterprise rake was swapped out, say the locomotive fails or whatnot, or there's a rugby or GAA final and the service is packed, then you could have some very unhappy PAX!

 

[IrishRailScene]

I suppose the most important factor is that the service actually runs.

Fun fact: only Lanyon Place/Portadown/Newry/First Plus host are permitted to sell first class tickets for the Enterprise on the NIR side. Staff like myself have been advised that despite having the ticket option, never to sell First Plus because you don't know what will end up operating the next Enterprise service, partially due to reliability but also because there is no seat guarantee. NIR's Class 3000 DMUs don't have any First Plus provision and the same goes for a lot of the Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Class 22000s, so if an Enterprise rake was swapped out, say the locomotive fails or whatnot, or there's a rugby or GAA final and the service is packed, then you could have some very unhappy PAX!

29000s do not have First Plus either.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

It will be 8 trainsets of 200m long consists. Tri-mode, (25KV AC, 1.5KV DC and diesel/battery) while they start the process of electrifying the whole line.

I assume the 1.5KV is for the existing OLE between Malahide and Connolly and 25KV for the new segments from Malahide to Lanyon Place? (once it has been completed).
OT a bit but given the age of the current DART fleet, have they considered upgrading to 25KV as part of renewing the fleet?

 

[Trainbike46]

I assume the 1.5KV is for the existing OLE between Malahide and Connolly and 25KV for the new segments from Malahide to Lanyon Place? (once it has been completed).
OT a bit but given the age of the current DART fleet, have they considered upgrading to 25KV as part of renewing the fleet?

The Enterprise service will be moving to the new Weaver's Cross / Europa / Great Victoria Street station once it opens, so I'd hope the electrification will be heading there too, rather than Lanyon Place!

 

[johnnydoe]

I assume the 1.5KV is for the existing OLE between Malahide and Connolly and 25KV for the new segments from Malahide to Lanyon Place? (once it has been completed).
OT a bit but given the age of the current DART fleet, have they considered upgrading to 25KV as part of renewing the fleet?

1.5KV DC as far as Drogheda after the DART Plus extension. I think it's going to be 25KV from Drogheda up. I'm not sure about the Belfast environs.

The new DARTs will be battery powered from Dundalk to Drogheda until the 25KV (most likely) line gets built.

The largest issue though is not enough tracks. There's a study looking into this now to have four tracking between Connolly and Malahide.

I'd say four tracking will happen, but that's not going to solve the future bottleneck between Drogheda and Malahide. There's going to be a DART every 10 minutes. It's hard to fit in an hourly Enterprise without it still getting stuck behind a DART.

A new railway line would completely fix this.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Here in Transport for Wales land we'd be happy with these kinds of substitution

I was going to say, they all look like luxury for a 2 hour hop! Even the 29000 looks comfier than a Turbostar!

 

[KK2109]

On Thursday (11/04), 1235 ex Belfast was swapped for 3002+3005 due to fault on the Enterprise set.

We were informed by the staff that there will be a late departure as they need to get another train from depot.

Quite impressed that they managed to find 2 CAWS fitted units from the depot rather than cancelled the service!

 

[dubscottie]

On Thursday (11/04), 1235 ex Belfast was swapped for 3002+3005 due to fault on the Enterprise set.

We were informed by the staff that there will be a late departure as they need to get another train from depot.

Quite impressed that they managed to find 2 CAWS fitted units from the depot rather than cancelled the service!

Not sure how it works in NI, but the 22 sets fitted with AWS etc are kept near Dublin so set swaps are easy.
Usually on Drogheda, Docklands, M3, Maynooth links so they can run to Belfast when needed.

 

[RailWonderer]

I was going to say, they all look like luxury for a 2 hour hop! Even the 29000 looks comfier than a Turbostar!

They're not really. You haven't had to suffer a 3 car 29000 from Wicklow to Connolly packed like sardines on a weekend. The seats are more like the Turbo seats in width and comfort, which is to say, the cushions are flat.

 

[dubscottie]

22034 working a Belfast diagram today.

 

[IrishRailScene]

22034 working a Belfast diagram today.

6 x ICR been booked for 0735-1035 for until 29 April.

Bus substitutions Belfast - Newry for the 0735 & 0930 from Dublin and the 0650, 0800 & 1035 from Belfast. Services will resume with 1120 from Dublin & 1235 from Belfast in both directions.

0936 from Belfast & 1221 from Dublin possibly cancelled
1820 from Dublin & 2106 from Belfast likely to be normal

1. NIRailways
2. Enterprise

Cross-Border Train Alterations - Passenger Information
13 May 00:01-06 July 00:00
service

• Rail

From Monday 13 May 2024 until Friday 5 July 2024 the following cross-broder train services will be operated by non-Enterprise trains, and will be operated by Irish Rail InterCity Railcar (ICR).

Full catering services will be available, with limited capacity in 1st Class and restricted space for bicycles (2 spaces instead of the usual 4).

Monday to Friday
07:35 Dublin – Lanyon Place
10:35 Lanyon Place-Dublin
13:20 Dublin – Lanyon Place
16:05 Lanyon Place – Dublin
19:00 Dublin – Lanyon Place
21:36 Lanyon Place – Dublin (retimed 20:05)

Saturday
07:35 Dublin – Lanyon Place
10:35 Lanyon Place – Dublin
13:20 Dublin – Lanyon Place
16:05 Lanyon Place – Dublin
19:00 Dublin – Lanyon Place
21:28 Lanyon Place – Dublin (retimed 20:05)

Sunday
10:00 Dublin – Lanyon Place
13:05 Lanyon Place – Dublin
16:00 Dublin – Lanyon Place
19:00 Lanyon Place – Dublin

All other cross-border services will be operated by Enterprise trains during this period.