The Irish Rail 29000 Class (originally 2900 Class) is a type of four-car Diesel Multiple Unit operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). The units were built in Spain by CAF in two batches between 2002 and 2005.
| Iarnród Éireann 29000 Class | |
|---|---|
 29409 departing from platform 4 at Dublin Connolly in July 2016 | |
 Interior | |
| In service | 30 June 2003 – present |
| Manufacturer | CAF |
| Family name | CxK |
| Constructed | 2002 – 2005 |
| Number built | 29 trainsets |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | 29001–29029 |
| Capacity | 185 seated 634 standing |
| Operator | Commuter |
| Depot | Drogheda Depot |
| Lines served | Dublin - Rosslare Dundalk Clarke - Dublin Dublin – Longford |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 81.46 m (267 ft 3 in) |
| Width | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 3.985 m (13 ft 0.9 in) |
| Maximum speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Weight | 43,520 kg (43.52 t) |
| Prime mover | MAN D 2876 LUH01, 400 hp |
| Braking systems | Air, 2 brake discs per axle |
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) see Rail gauge in Ireland |
Description
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Irish Rail ordered the 2900s in 2000 from CAF, the manufacturer's first order from Ireland. The first unit was delivered in February 2002, and they soon began testing in Limerick. The first units entered service in June of that year on the Northern Commuter service, replacing loco-hauled Mk3s.[1]
As a result of the class' success, 9 additional sets were ordered, entering traffic in late 2005. As there wasn't enough numbers spare for the additional sets in the 29xx range, the class became the 29000s (being numbered by set rather than each individual carriage having a number).[1]
The class were delivered in the dark blue "Commuter" livery, making them the first domestic non-DART stock not to be delivered in black and orange since the early 1960s. Starting in the 2010s, the class begun to be repainted into a two-tone green livery. The final units to receive this livery in 2022 had it applied as a vinyl instead of a repaint.[1]
Deployment
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For a brief period of time from June 2005 to December 2006, a 29000 railcar operated two journeys on a Sunday to Belfast, departing Dublin Connolly at 15.00 and calling at Drogheda MacBride, Dundalk Clarke, Newry, Portadown, Botanic and Belfast Central (now Belfast Lanyon Place) arriving at 17.14 departing at 18.15 for Dublin. They work most Northern Commuter, South Eastern Commuter and Western Commuter services. They have proven to be a very reliable unit despite operating a variety of demanding services including Dublin - Sligo services. They were largely returned to their intended Commuter services since deliveries of 22000 Class DMUs commenced in 2007, which displaced them from Sligo line workings in 2008, though there are still a few services to and from Rosslare Europort with the 29000 Class DMUs. However, they remained in their "Commuter" livery when working this long-distance line.
The November 2009 timetable change finally saw the end of the 29000s running West of Dublin from Heuston to Newbridge/Kildare and Carlow. The services have been operated by 22000 Class DMUs since 2009.
Fleet details
editRoutes
editCurrent services
edit- Grand Canal Dock/Dublin Connolly/Docklands to M3 Parkway/Maynooth/Longford (Western Commuter)
- Grand Canal Dock/Dublin Connolly to Drogheda MacBride/Dundalk Clarke (Northern Commuter)
In addition, these trains occasionally operate services from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central and Sligo MacDiarmada.
Former services
editIn popular culture
editAccidents and incidents
edit- On Friday, 21 August 2009, at 6:30 pm a 20m section of the Malahide viaduct collapsed into the Broadmeadow estuary, seconds before a Balbriggan to Dublin Pearce 29000 commuter ran over the section soon to fall into the estuary. [4]
- On Monday,16 November 2009, unit 29026 was derailed near Wicklow when it collided with a landslip obstructing the line.[5]
- On Tuesday, 7 June 2016, one unidentified unit caught fire whilst operating the 09:40 Drogheda to Dublin Pearse service.[6]
- On Friday, 14 May 2021 an unidentified unit caught fire while working a train from Maynooth to Dublin Connolly.
- On Saturday, 29 April 2023, unit 29013 was involved in an incident while working the 13.20 Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service.
- On Friday, 9 August 2024, an unidentified unit caught fire at Broombridge on a Connolly to Maynooth train.
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 Kelly, Niall (12 July 2023). "Celebrating 20 years of the 29000 class Irish railcars". Tailte Tours. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ↑ carrigstown89 (6 June 2021). Fair City (3rd January 2021). Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ faircityfan (24 December 2010). Fair City Titles 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via YouTube.
- ↑ https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/0719/1064062-malahide-viaduct-collapse/
- ↑ "Investigation Report 2010-R006" (PDF). Dublin: Rail Accident Investigation Unit. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ↑ "Latest: Investigation launched after train after engine catches fire". 7 June 2016.
External links
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- Irish Rail Fleet Information website Archived 2018-09-28 at the Wayback Machine