A significant milestone in modernising Ireland’s railways was reached when Alstom completed the installation of a Level 1 European Train Control System (ETCS) on the Dundalk to Greystones route in Ireland.

This system controls approximately 120km of the route, and covers all the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) commuter network from Dundalk in the north to Greystones in the south. The system integrates new safety features with enhanced interoperability.

Design started on one of Europe’s largest Level 1 ETCS installations in 2022, and site testing started in late 2024.

IÉ 22000 Class No. 22001 was equipped with ETCS for the trials, and the project was completed without any lost time incidents.

Installation of the ETCS system included more than 1,200 balises in between the rails, 337 signals from Alstom’s globally proven trackside portfolio, and over 450 Micro-Coder lineside electronic units overlaid on legacy equipment to provide enhanced safety and minimise disruption.

Alstom delivered the system in partnership with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), reinforcing Alstom’s commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and safe solutions specifically tailored to the requirements of Ireland’s railways.

Iarnród Éireann and the Commission for Railway Regulation are currently undertaking safety approvals, and once operational, it will be used on Ireland’s next-generation fleet for the DART+ network.

Up to 750 new commuter rail cars for the DART+ programme are being supplied by Alstom as part of a ten-year framework agreement with Irish Rail.

Irish Rail has placed firm orders with Alstom for 37 five-car X’trapolis trains, including a 15-year support services contract. These trains are being manufactured at Alstom’s Chorzów facility near Katowice in Poland.

Thirty-one trains will be Ireland’s first Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs), and six will be Electric Multiple Units (EMUs).

The first train is currently undergoing testing, having been delivered to Dublin in November 2024, and will enter service next year.

Funded under the National Development Plan by the National Transport Authority, DART+ is a transformative programme to make sure rail travel is at the heart of Ireland’s sustainable transport network. DART+ will double the capacity and treble the length of electrified lines in Greater Dublin.

“The completion of the Dundalk to Greystones ETCS Level 1 project is a testament to our technical expertise and commitment to enhancing rail safety and efficiency in Ireland. This landmark achievement lays the foundation for the future of Irish rail, ensuring safer, smarter and greener transport for passengers. Our teams have worked tirelessly to deliver this milestone, and we are all proud to support Ireland’s journey towards a modernised, sustainable rail network.”

Piers Wood, Alstom’s Managing Director for Ireland